Smoking
Can I wait till I am pregnant before I give up smoking?
No. You really do need to give up smoking as soon as you can to give your baby the best start in life.
You won't actually know you are pregnant until you miss a period, and this will be a couple of weeks after you have conceived. These early days are crucial for the baby's development.
Get all the help and support you can now to quit smoking before you start trying for a baby. If you quit for good now you have a better chance of avoiding lapsing back into the habit in frustration if it takes more than a few months to conceive. Ask at your local GP surgery what support is available to you.
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I've tried giving up smoking before, but it has never worked. What should I do?
Don't beat yourself up about it. Guilt can actually make you smoke more! Many people need more than one attempt before they finally break the habit.
You might find it easier this time with the extra motivation of helping your future baby be healthy. The key to finally giving up is to plan your attempt and get support if you are struggling. There's plenty of support and advice around. Find out more about quitting smoking, think about visiting your GP or phoning the NHS Smoking helpline for advice on 0800 169 0 169.
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I want to give up smoking, but don’t want to put on weight.
For those who reach for a cigarette when they're bored, there is a danger that they’ll reach for snacks instead and put on weight. But this need not be the case.
Make sure you have lots of fresh fruit and dried raisins, prunes and even carrot sticks near to hand. You’ll find that these suddenly taste better because your taste buds can now pick up the flavours. If you need something to put in your mouth because you are missing cigarettes, try chewing sugar-free gum.
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More frequently asked questions about conception