Posted: 27th July, 2023
Issue 9: Having a Healthy Pregnancy if you Smoke
When you smoke, the harmful chemicals in cigarettes travel from your lungs, to your bloodstream and then through your placenta to your baby. As a result, your baby struggles for oxygen and this affects their development.
We are working across Sussex to try to help more people have a safe pregnancy.
Maternal smoking is associated with -
- A 47% increase in the risk of stillbirth
- A 27% increased risk of pre-term birth
- An 82% increased risk of a low birthweight baby
- Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of your baby being born with abnormalities of the heart, limbs, and face
What are the benefits of quitting?
- Stopping smoking can reduce your risk of miscarriage or stillbirth
- You’ll reduce your risk of giving birth prematurely and of your baby being born underweight
- You will reduce your baby’s risk of sudden infant death (SIDS, also known as cot death)
- You will improve your baby’s chance of having healthy lungs as they grow – reducing the risk of asthma
What’s New on the LMNS Website?
Self-refer to Physiotherapy Services in Sussex
It is now possible to self-refer to pelvic health physiotherapy services via our digital self-referral form. Self-referral allows you to access the pelvic health physiotherapy service without having to see your GP or a health care professional.