SMOKE EXPOSURE
What is secondhand smoke?
• Secondhand smoke is smoke people breathe in when someone else is smoking.
• It is harmful to infants, children and adults.
• There is no safe level of exposure.
How does secondhand smoke affect pregnancy?
• Secondhand smoke during pregnancy can cause a baby to be born too soon and too small. This can lead to life-long health problems and learning delays.
Secondhand smoke is also dangerous after your
baby is born. Babies exposed to secondhand smoke:
• Have higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and sleep-related infant death.
• Can have permanent lung damage.
• Are at greater risk for asthma, ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
• Can have more coughs and colds.
What am I supposed to do when just about everyone I know smokes?
• Avoid secondhand smoke in your home:
- Ask family members and visitors to please smoke outdoors and thank them for smoking outdoors.
- If someone gives you a hard time, say “Sorry, but I am not taking any
chances with my baby’s health.”
• Stay away from places where people smoke.
What is thirdhand smoke?
• Thirdhand smoke is the leftover smoke chemicals that remain on surfaces from people smoking nearby.
• The residue clings to furniture, clothing, bedding, carpet, toys, and other surfaces long after smoking has stopped.
• Thirdhand smoke contains toxic chemicals that are harmful.
How does thirdhand smoke affect my baby?
• Babies can be exposed to thirdhand smoke if they chew on affected objects, crawl on affected carpet, are held by people wearing
affected clothing, and many more ways.
• Young children have the highest risk of exposure to thirdhand smoke because they put so many things in their mouths.
• The chemicals in thirdhand smoke can increase cancer risk, cause headaches and earaches, lower ability to fight infection, worsen respiratory illness, and more.
How can I protect myself and my baby from thirdhand smoke?
• The only way to protect yourself and your baby is to create a smoke-free environment.
• If you cannot avoid exposure, some ways to reduce thirdhand smoke residue include:
o Not allowing smoking in the house.
o Have smoker change clothes and shower or wash hands.
o Frequently clean surfaces and vacuum/mop.
o Frequently wash clothing/bedding/curtains.
What about e-cigarettes and vapes?
• The aerosol from e-cigarettes or vapes has cancer-causing chemicals. When somebody vapes or uses an e-cigarette, they exhale the aerosol and can expose you and your baby to secondhand and thirdhand aerosol.
SMOKING AND VAPING
How does smoking while pregnant hurt my baby?
• Your baby’s brain gets less oxygen, which can impair your baby’s growth.
• It can impair your baby’s breathing after birth.
• It increases the risk that your baby will be born too early.
• It increases the risk of SIDS and sleep-related infant death. In Michigan, babies born to someone who smoked during pregnancy were 4.4 times more likely to die in a sleep environment than infants born to a person who did not smoke
• It increases the risk that your baby will have learning or behavior problems, including hyperactivity.
I tried to quit before, and I could not do it. Why should I think it will be any different now?
• Now, you have the most important motivation – your baby’s health is at stake.
• There are different ways to quit, and you probably have not tried them all.
• Smoking is not the only way to cope with stress – you can learn other ways.
• You will save a lot of money that you can spend on your baby.
• It is always worth it to try to quit – you never know which time will be the time that you succeed.
How can I quit when most of my family and friends are smokers?
It is hard, of course, but there are some things you can do:
o Let your partner, family and friends know that you are quitting for your baby.
o Ask for their support and ask them to quit with you if you both smoke.
o Thank them for not smoking around you and your baby.
What about vaping or using e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes and vapes contain toxins that are not safe during pregnancy. They contain nicotine which can damage baby’s brain and lungs. Even vapes without nicotine can harm a baby. The aerosol has chemicals like lead and other heavy metals, which can harm a growing baby.
