• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Raising Children Network
  • Pregnancy
  • Newborns
  • Babies
  • Toddlers
  • Preschoolers
  • School age
  • Pre-teens
  • Teens
  • Grown-ups
  • Autism
  • Disability

Smoking or vaping: how it affects pregnancy

If you or your partner smokes or vapes, it can be harder to get pregnant.

If you smoke or vape while you’re pregnant, your baby smokes or vapes too.

If you inhale other people’s smoke or vapour while you’re pregnant, this smoke or vapour passes to your baby.

Smoking or vaping during pregnancy or breastfeeding: bad for your baby

Cigarette smoke and vapour contain toxic chemicals like nicotine. These chemicals can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or low birth weight in your baby.

Nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke and vapour can damage your baby’s brain and lungs and increase risks for breathing problems, cleft lip and palate, ear infections and hearing loss.

Smoking or vaping might reduce how much breastmilk you make and put harmful substances in your breastmilk. But even if you smoke or vape, breastfeeding is still best for your baby.

No smoking or vaping: good for you and your baby

Protect your baby by keeping your home and car free from smoke and vapour. Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is strongly linked to smoking cigarettes or using vapes containing nicotine during pregnancy or after birth.

It’s never too late to quit. For example, one hour after you quit, the risk of pregnancy complications and your baby’s risk of illness goes down.

If you’re finding it hard to quit, call Quitline on 137 848 for help. Ask family and friends to help. For example, they can avoid smoking or vaping around you and your baby.

Download printable version

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Sign up now to get free parenting news delivered to your inbox.
Aboriginal flag (c) WAM Clothing
Torres Strait Islands flag
At raisingchildren.net.au we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, gather and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms of use

© 2006-2025 Raising Children Network (Australia) Limited. All rights reserved.

Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.