This morning on Mix 101.1’s Breakfast show, Chrissie admitted a terrible secret... Listen above

Chrissie and Jane spoke to Dr Andrew Rochford to get the facts on smoking while pregnant. Listen to his interview below:

Here's The Sum-Up:

• Smoking and a baby, especially unborn baby, do not mix- the medical profession is unanimous on this point
• It can be difficult for pregnant women to give up smoking because it is an abstract thought which can make it hard to grasp. If you find it hard to think of yourself and your baby as one- imagine that you have your newborn baby sitting in front of you- you would not want to smoke directly into your baby's face!
• When you smoke, your unborn baby is absorbing nicotine directly into their blood stream- it is as if they themselves were smoking.
• Of the 4000 or so chemicals found in cigarettes, we know of 69 that cause cancer- you are exposing to all of these when you smoke.
• Smoking while pregnant can cause low birth weight, increased risk of giving birth prematurely and not being able to birth naturally- among other factors (see below).
• Smoking a low amount is going to make it easier to give up completely- but there is NO safe amount to smoke. It is best for you and your baby to go cold turkey and break the habit completely.

Quit For You. Quit For Two.
The Australian Government offers a service to help you to quit smoking. As they say "When a baby's on the way, it's twice as important to get the support you need to quite smoking".

Here's some information to help you quit smoking:

Smoking during pregnancy is considered to be the biggest contributing factor to the development of complications during a pregnancy. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals such as carbon monoxide, nicotine and cyanide. Tobacco causes long-term damage to the lungs, brain and blood of an unborn child and can cause pregnancy emergencies in the mother, by reducing the amount of essential oxygen and nutrients an unborn baby needs for healthy physical and mental development

Smoking & Pregnancy: Information For Women.

Smoke-Free Pregnancy – The Benefits:

Quitting smoking before or during pregnancy is the single most effective means of protecting your baby and yourself from the development of serious complications during pregnancy.

By Quitting Smoking Before Or During Pregnancy You Are:

• More likely to conceive naturally and without delay
• Less likely to suffer a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
• Less likely to deliver your baby prematurely

By Quitting Smoking Before Or During Pregnancy Your Baby Is:

• Less likely to die at or shortly after birth from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• More likely to be born a healthy weight
• Likely to be more settled and feed better
• More likely to be discharged home from hospital with you and need less care in hospital.
• A baby exposed to tobacco smoke in-utero and through second-hand smoke as an infant is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and be obese as an adult. This risk is increased even if they are non-smokers throughout their lives.

What Can I Do?

The good news is that by stopping smoking you and your baby benefit straight away. It’s never too late to quit smoking and gain health benefits for you and your baby.

Think about quitting smoking, for yourself and for your baby. There is always a good time to stop smoking—before, during or after the baby is born—the earlier the better.

Ask your health professional for specialised advice to help pregnant women and their partners quit smoking, or call the Quitline on 13 7848.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is now considered precautionary for use in pregnancy and lactation. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should seek advice from their medical professional prior to commencing NRT.

For more information, and to find out more about the free quit smoking app for mums-to-be go to www.quitnow.gov.au