Q: "I smoke and I've just found out I'm pregnant. I know I'll find it really hard to quit – how much is it likely to affect my baby if I continue to smoke? I know my baby might be smaller, but surely that's a good thing as it'll be easier to give birth?"
A: Francine Bates, chief executive of The Lullaby Trust and co-chair of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group, says: "Every cigarette causes damage to both you and your baby, so stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do to protect the health of your baby through pregnancy and beyond.
"You're right that babies born to mothers who smoke while pregnant are more likely to be smaller, but this isn't a good thing. If a woman smokes while pregnant, her baby is more likely to be born too early or too sick to go straight home after birth. These babies are more likely to need extra care from the special care baby unit, and are at greater risk of breathing problems, disabilities and in some cases, even death.
"There's lots of support available to help you stop smoking. Your midwife can discuss options to help you, including referring you to your local stop smoking service."
:: For more advice, visit the NHS Smokefree website on www.nhs.uk/smokefree
