Smoking and Pregnancy
Tobacco smoking during pregnancy is the most common preventable risk factor for pregnancy complications.
There is no safe level of smoking or vaping in pregnancy.
Pregnancy is an opportunity for health professionals to help those that smoke or vape, and their partners, to quit. Brief advice from a health professional is a major external trigger in prompting someone who smokes to make a quit attempt.
The Safer Baby Bundle has information on supporting women to quit during pregnancy.
A 3-step brief advice model, connecting women to evidence-based nicotine dependence treatment, has been developed for service providers.
How can Quitline support your patient/client who is pregnant?
Behavioural support is first line treatment for women who are pregnant and smoke or vape. Quitline counsellors have specific training to help people who are pregnant to quit smoking or vaping and they can support your patient / client through their pregnancy and after the birth. They also support partners and family to make a quit attempt.
Quitline supports people by providing:
- culturally appropriate assistance with smoking and vaping cessation, tailored to individual needs
- information on quitting methods and planning a quit attempt
- strategies for coping with withdrawals/cravings and getting through difficult situations
- tips for managing stress and weight gain
- information on nicotine replacement therapy, if needed
- call-back service
More information and resources
- RACGP Supporting smoking cessation: a guide for health professionals
- Tobacco in Australia: facts and issues. Smoking cessation and pregnancy
- Smoking and SIDS/SUDI: Still smoking?
- Download the My QuitBuddy app
QuitTas has developed a flyer for pregnant people. It is available in the link below:
