Smoking and drinking during pregnancy

Smoking is known to have detrimental effects on an unborn baby’s health, so it’s a good idea for both you and your partner to give up^1_.

When your pregnant partner is exposed to passive smoke, your baby takes in a range of harmful chemical substances, including:

• Nicotine – known to constrict blood vessels, affecting the uterine and placental blood flow and increasing your baby’s blood pressure and heart rate
• Carbon monoxide – binds to haemoglobin in the blood, meaning that blood cells carry less oxygen resulting in a low birthweight
• Tar – a cancer-causing substance that can irritate the lungs

Of course, once your baby has arrived, any smoke they inhale will have the same negative effect on their health. So by giving up smoking now, your baby will be getting a healthier start in life, and you might be able to completely kick the habit.

Sometimes your partner might have had a drink early on in pregnancy before realising they’ve conceived. But after they’ve discovered they are pregnant it’s recommended they give up completely.

Whilst your alcohol consumption won’t have a direct effect on your child, by giving up or cutting down on alcohol you’ll be offering some valuable moral support for your pregnant partner.

If you’re cutting down, rather than fully giving up, it’s a good idea to stick to the recommended daily alcohol intake, which is 3–4 units for men or 2–3 for women.