1. Why do some moms using tobacco during pregnancy have healthy babies?
A: Every woman has a different pregnancy, birth and baby. Moms who smoke have a higher risk of health problems and complications for both herself and her baby. To learn more, read about smoking during pregnancy.
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2. Babies often weigh less when the mother uses tobacco. Isn't it easier to give birth to a small baby?
A: Babies with low birth weights usually have more health problems than regular weight babies, and this can often make giving birth more difficult. Babies that have tobacco and/or cigarette smoke passed to them in the womb are often smaller because they do not get as much food and oxygen as babies of moms who don't smoke. To learn about using tobacco during pregnancy.
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3. Does cigarette smoke get through to the fetus?
A: A pregnant woman is connected to the fetus by an organ called the placenta, which passes along things that the woman eats, drinks and breathes. When smoking during pregnancy, chemicals from the cigarette such as nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar are passed to the fetus through the placenta.
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4. If a woman who uses tobacco breastfeeds her baby, does the nicotine get into her milk?
A: Nicotine will get into the breast milk. However, it is still okay to breastfeed when you are using tobacco. Here are some tips if you are using tobacco and breastfeeding:
- Don't smoke just before or during breastfeeding.
- Change your clothes before breastfeeding if you have smoked.
- Wash your hands before breastfeeding if you have used tobacco.
- Reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke.
- Do not use tobacco around the baby.
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5. Are there any long-term harmful effects on the baby if the mother uses tobacco during pregnancy?
A: There is some research that links using tobacco during pregnancy to health problems such as being more likely to get colds and lung infections. Research also shows that children of parents who use tobacco may be more likely to have difficulties with learning and behaviour. It is also shown that children of parents who use tobacco are more likely to smoke when they get older.
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6. Can a pregnant woman use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products such as the patch, gum and inhaler?
A: There is not much research on the effects of NRT in pregnancy. When a woman uses tobacco, chemicals such as nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar are passed to the fetus through the placenta. NRT doesn't have carbon monoxide or tar in it, just the nicotine. So using NRT in pregnancy may protect the fetus from carbon monoxide, tar, and other chemicals. Carbon monoxide and tars are the more harmful substances in cigarettes. It is a good idea to discuss NRT in pregnancy with your doctor, nurse, midwife or doula. If you're not sure of what to say, you can try some tips from our
How to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider.
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