Smoking and Your Baby

Smoking and its secondhand smoke create many harmful health problems.  The habit has been proven to cause heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and emphysema.  For the nonsmoker, secondhand smoke is similar to smoking half of the smoker's cigarette.

Pregnant women face additional risks. They are more likely to have miscarriages, stillbirths, preterm labor and premature babies than women who do not smoke.  Babies born to smoking mothers may also be too small and have slow physical growth and mental development.  Children are more prone to allergies, colds, asthma, lung problems and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if their mother smokes. 

 If you smoke and you are a mother, pregnant or wishing to become pregnant, the West Virginia Quitline can help you stop.  The program provides the following:

•   Free  to smokers who want to quit - and their immediate families who live in the same home.

•   Free educational materials about how to stop smoking

•   Helpful phone coaches to assist you in quitting

•   Nicotine patches for 8 weeks for those 18 or older.

Studies prove that you are more likely to quit if you are coached.  So, if you are pregnant or have a child, please call the West Virginia Quitline now at 1-877-966-8784.  We can give you the tools and encouragement you need to quit smoking for good.