The good news is that you can significantly decrease these risks listed above by smoking cessation. Even if you are in your second or third trimester, changing your habits now can still make a difference. Although quitting smoking early in pregnancy yields the greatest benefit for pregnant the woman and fetus, quitting at any point can be beneficial. For example, women who stop smoking at any time up to the 30th week of gestation have infants with higher birth weights than women who smoke throughout pregnancy. But the earlier you stop, the better.

So where do you start?

• The first thing to do is avoid "trigger situations" if possible, places where you typically smoke.



• Have a "smoke-free" space in your home.



• Identify a "quitting buddy", someone who has successfully quit smoking or has always been a non-smoker, who can support you during this process.



• Tell everyone at home and everyone at work, school, church, wherever you spend your time, that you are quitting and you want their support. Peer pressure can be a valuable aid!

Nicotine gum and patches and Zyban are useful aids for smoking cessation, frequently used outside of pregnancy. They can also be considered during pregnancy if nonpharmacologic methods listed above are unsuccessful. You should discuss it with your obstetrician at The Woman's Wellness Center to individualize the best treatment plan for you.

Good luck! Please let us know how we can help you in this important task.