Quit smoking advice for pregnant women from the local NHS Stop Smoking service, Smokefree Liverpool.

Every time you smoke a cigarette while pregnant, carbon monoxide passes through your placenta and along the cord to your baby. This is like someone squeezing the cord so the oxygen can't get through properly and your baby has to struggle for oxygen and its tiny heart has to work harder.

This can cause risks including:

• Miscarriage
• Premature birth
• Still birth
• Life threatening conditions

Once the baby is born, they are more likely to suffer:

• Asthma and breathing problems
• Behavioural problems
• Cot death

The only way to prevent these risks is to stop smoking completely.

We know quitting can be hard, but there are ways to make it easier! Smokefree Liverpool offers local and easy help to stop smoking and is completely FREE. You’ll get friendly support with no judgement, with tailored medication to help you stop smoking.

You are four times more likely to quit with support than doing it on your own!

Stopping smoking early in pregnancy can almost completely prevent damage to your baby. Stopping at any time during pregnancy reduces the risk of damage.

Ask your midwife for a referral to the stop smoking service or visit www.smokefreeliverpool.co.uk