Frequently asked questions

Smoking during pregnancy reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients your baby receives, which can impact their growth and development. It increases the risk of complications such as:

• Premature birth.
• Low birth weight.
• Miscarriage or stillbirth.
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Quitting at any stage of pregnancy improves the outcome for both you and your baby. The sooner you stop, the better—but it’s never too late to make a positive change and Help Me Quit is here to support you every step of the way!

No, quitting smoking is the BEST thing you can do for your baby’s health.

While you may experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms like irritability or cravings, these are temporary and not harmful to you or your baby. Stopping smoking will reduce exposure to harmful chemicals from tobacco smoke and allow your baby to develop in a healthier environment.

You don’t have to quit alone—specialist support is available!

Help Me Quit offers free, non-judgmental support tailored for smokers who are pregnant. You’ll also have access to licensed Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), such as patches or gum, which are much safer to use during pregnancy than smoking. Our expert and understanding advisors can help you create a personalised quit plan and provide ongoing encouragement throughout your journey.

Yes, licensed NRT products like patches, gum, or lozenges are considered much safer than smoking during pregnancy. These products deliver controlled doses of nicotine without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, helping you to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Your Help Me Quit advisor or specialist healthcare professional will help you choose the best option for you.

Quitting smoking can be challenging, especially during pregnancy, but support is available. Consider the following:

• Seek expert help: Contact Help Me Quit for free, personalised support.
• Use NRT: Safe and effective products can help reduce cravings.
• Identify triggers: Work with an expert stop-smoking advisor to understand what makes you want to smoke and develop strategies to help you quit.

Remember, you’re not alone, and every small step you take is a positive move for you and your baby.

If you continue to smoke, your baby will remain exposed to harmful chemicals that can restrict oxygen flow and affect their development. This can lead to increased risks of:

• Complications during labour and delivery.
• Long-term health problems for your baby, including respiratory issues and a higher risk of infections.

If you’re struggling, reach out for help – Help Me Quit support is always available to make quitting achievable.

That’s normal, and it’s okay to ask for help! Pregnancy can bring new stresses and challenges, so it’s understandable if you feel tempted to smoke again. Contact Help Me Quit for support to stay smoke-free. We can help you manage stress, cravings, and other challenges to keep you and your baby on the path to better health.

Stopping smoking after your baby is born is just as important. Continued smoking increases your baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), respiratory illnesses, and ear infections. Staying smoke-free provides a healthier environment for your child and sets a positive example for the future.

Breastfeeding is one of the best starts you can give your baby. Quitting smoking ensures your breast milk is free from nicotine, harmful chemicals, and it reduces your baby’s exposure to tobacco smoke. This helps protect your baby’s health and reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Second-hand smoke is harmful to your baby, both during pregnancy and after birth. If your partner or family members smoke, encourage them to quit or avoid smoking around you. Creating a smoke-free home is a great first step!

Support is also available for them through Help Me Quit, which can help create a healthier, smoke-free environment for you and your baby.

Help Me Quit offers evidence-based, personalised support that significantly increases the likelihood of successfully quitting smoking. Patients who access these services are up to three times more likely to quit compared to those who try alone. Referring your patients gives them access to expert advisors, licensed stop-smoking medications, and ongoing encouragement tailored to their needs.

Any patient who smokes will benefit from a referral to Help Me Quit! Some groups who are suitable for referral include:

• Smokers ready to quit: Individuals motivated to stop smoking and looking for support.
• Undecided smokers: Patients who are not yet ready but could benefit from learning about the health and financial benefits of quitting.
• Pregnant smokers: Women who smoke during pregnancy to help improve outcomes for both mother and baby.
• Young people aged 12+: Who smoke and are open to quitting, ideally with parental consent.

Referrals can typically be made through:

• Online referral form: Use the Professional Referral Form located on the Help Me Quit website
• Electronic health records: Many Health Board systems have integrated referral options direct to the local Help Me Quit service.
• Phone referrals: Contact the Help Me Quit team directly to refer your patient.

Provide the patient’s contact details (with their consent), and the team will follow up to arrange support.

Help Me Quit offers:

• One-on-one support: Tailored sessions with trained stop-smoking advisors.
• Group programmes: Evidence-based group support sessions that build motivation and share strategies.
• Licensed medications: Access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and prescription stop-smoking medications.
• Flexible support: Options include sessions held in accessible community venues, secondary care and community pharmacy, alongside nationally available telephone support, to suit individual needs.

Reassure them that:

• It’s free: Patients won’t need to pay for support or medications.
• It’s supportive and judgmental: The service is designed to encourage and empower them.
• It’s effective: Using Help Me Quit significantly improves the chances of quitting successfully.
• It’s tailored: They will receive personalised advice and a quit plan that fits their lifestyle.

Quitting smoking can improve a patient’s health almost immediately and reduce the risk of numerous smoking-related conditions. Benefits include:

• Faster recovery from surgery and illness.
• Improved management of chronic conditions, such as COPD, asthma, and diabetes.
• Reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer.

Encouraging a patient to quit is one of the most impactful interventions you can make for their long-term health.

Even if patients aren’t ready to quit completely, you can:

• Encourage them to reduce smoking and consider temporary nicotine replacement options or a complete switch to vapes.
• Highlight the free, expert support available to them when they feel ready.
• Emphasise that every attempt counts and that the service will be there whenever they choose to try again.

Once referred, Help Me Quit will contact your patient directly. You can follow up during future consultations by asking about their progress and reinforcing the benefits of quitting. If the patient did not engage with the service, you can encourage them to reconsider at a later time.

Help Me Quit services can offer telephone support and information to help guide your patients through the process of quitting, including advice on breaking nicotine dependency.

We currently can’t offer nicotine replacement to support your patient’s vape quit attempt, but evidence shows that many adults are able to quit vaping through a taper down process. Our experts are here to guide your patients through this.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that all health and social care professionals be trained in delivering Very Brief Advice (VBA) on smoking. VBA is designed to be delivered opportunistically in under 30 seconds, making it a quick and effective way to encourage patients to consider quitting.

Training in VBA equips Health Professionals with the confidence and skills to address smoking with patients in a non-judgmental, supportive way. Research shows that brief interventions can significantly increase the likelihood of smokers quitting.