If you smoke and you’re thinking about trying for a baby, stopping smoking is the most important thing you can do for your fertility, your pregnancy and your baby’s long-term health. The good news is that quitting at any stage has real benefits — and the earlier the better.
Smoking affects the fertility of both women and men. In women, it can disrupt hormone levels, damage eggs and bring forward the menopause. In men, it lowers sperm count and quality. Couples where one or both partners smoke can take longer to conceive — and the chances of conceiving improve once smoking stops.
If you’re trying for a baby, encourage your partner to quit alongside you. Quitting together is easier than quitting alone, and the benefits compound.
Every cigarette restricts your baby’s supply of oxygen and exposes them to harmful chemicals. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of:
Vapes (e-cigarettes) are less harmful than smoking, but they are not risk-free in pregnancy. The safest option is to be free of nicotine. If you have switched to vaping to help you stop smoking and are pregnant, talk to your midwife or GP about a plan to stop completely.
The benefits of quitting begin almost immediately:
For your baby, stopping smoking — even partway through pregnancy — lowers the risk of low birthweight and prematurity, and means a healthier start in life.
Talk to your GP, midwife or pharmacist They can refer you to a free stop-smoking service and discuss safe options for pregnancy, including nicotine replacement therapy where appropriate.
Call the HSE QUIT line (Ireland) on 1800 201 203 Free, confidential support from trained advisors. You can also text QUIT to 50100 or visit quit.ie for an online quit plan and supports.
Use a quit plan Pick a quit date, identify your triggers, plan what you’ll do instead, and tell the people around you so they can support you. Having a plan roughly doubles your chances of success.
Nicotine replacement in pregnancy Patches, gum, lozenges and inhalators can be used in pregnancy with medical advice, and are far safer than smoking. Your GP can advise on the right option for you.
Don’t go it alone Whether it’s a partner, a friend or a peer group, support during the first few weeks makes a measurable difference. Many people need more than one attempt — that’s normal, not failure.
