Smoking and Tobacco Use During Pregnancy
If you smoke or vape, you’re putting yourself and your baby at risk. Learn how to quit now.
August 8, 2025Contributor:Jill D. Foley, M.D., FACOG
Tobacco use — whether from cigarettes, cigars, or e-cigarettes — can harm your baby’s health. Smoking during pregnancy raises the risk of:
- Breathing and feeding problems
- Low birth weight
- Premature birth
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Secondhand smoke is also linked to SIDS and can cause major health problems to your baby. Avoid smokers and smoking areas whenever possible.
Even secondhand smoke can cause harm. And while e-cigarettes may seem like a safer option, they still contain nicotine, which affects your baby’s brain and lung development.
If you smoke or vape, now’s a good time to quit. Your provider can help, and there are free tools from the CDC and American Cancer Society.
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