Smoking

If you smoke, you are strongly advised to stop smoking before getting pregnant. Tobacco smoke contains poisonous chemicals which pass into the baby's blood and can slow the baby's growth. The risk of having a miscarriage, premature birth, or stillbirth are higher if you smoke. Even after the birth, children of smoking parents have an increased risk of developing chest infections, asthma, 'glue ear', and sudden infant death syndrome (cot death).

For many women who smoke, planning to become pregnant is a good incentive to stop smoking. Also, it is often a good time to persuade partners to give up too. If you find it difficult to stop smoking then seek advice and help from your practice nurse, GP, or pharmacist.

Street ('illicit') drugs

If you take or inject street drugs, you are strongly advised to stop taking them before getting pregnant. The effects of street drugs on pregnancy are not fully known, but they are likely to pose a risk. If you cannot come off drugs easily, see your doctor for help. For example, substitute therapy in place of injecting heroin is an option which is safer during pregnancy.

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