Children are more at risk from second-hand smoke. It is a mixture of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled by the person smoking.
Second hand smoke can increase the risk of:
- wheezing and coughing
- asthma
- ear infections and glue ear
- sudden infant death
- respiratory infections
- bacterial meningitis
Second-hand smoke can harm your baby even before they are born. Inhaling smoke puts harmful chemicals, like tar and carbon monoxide, into your body. These chemicals can damage both you and your unborn baby, leading to a range of health problems.
Quit for you, quit for two
Stopping smoking is the most effective way to improve the health of both you and your unborn baby. The earlier you stop, the better for both of you.
We support women throughout pregnancy and beyond to reduce the risks of smoking and second-hand smoke. Here’s how we help:
- support pregnant women to consider quitting and set a quit date
- provide individual quit smoking support programmes for pregnant women and new mothers up to one year after their baby’s birth
- support the whole family by helping others in a woman’s life quit smoking
- offer advice on nicotine replacement products, including nicotine replacement therapy, and provide vouchers for local chemists
- encourage smoke-free homes
- direct you to relevant services
- work with health professionals involved in your care, such as midwives, health visitors, and GPs
- continue to support women who haven’t fully quit, with phone calls, letters, and text messages up to one year after birth
Doncaster health visitors offers support at:
- antenatal clinics at Doncaster Women’s Hospital
- family hub’s
- the patient’s home
We take a non-judgmental approach and believe it is never too late to quit for the benefit of both mother and baby. We understand quitting is difficult and offer support throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Learn how does smoking affect pregnancy, babies and children (opens in new window).
For more information call our single point of contact team on 03000 21 8997.
Page last reviewed: February 06, 2025
Next review due: February 06, 2026
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