top of page

Smoke Free

Smoking is a bad habit prohibited during

Smoking is not only bad for you, it’s bad for your baby, too.  If you smoke during your pregnancy, your baby could be born low birth-weight or have health problems later on. In Baltimore City,  babies who are exposed to smoke 

in the womb are 5x more likely to die from SIDS than babies not exposed to cigarette smoke. But any kind of smoke is bad for your baby -- cigarettes, cigars, e-cigs, vapes, and marijuana. 

Explore this page to learn more about why it's important to be smoke free for your baby, common concerns, tips for quitting, and smoking cessation support. 

Smoke-free Pregnancy

Smoke-free Pregnancy

Every day that you do not smoke, you are doing something great for yourself and your baby -- you should be proud of yourself. To fully protect your baby, your baby’s daycare center or caregiver’s home should be smoke-free as well.​

If you're pregnant and you smoke...

If you quit during pregnancy, your baby is more likely to:

  • Be born healthy

  • Have strong lungs that work well

  • Be less fussy and develop fewer earaches

  • Get sick less.

And you will:

  • Have more energy and breathe more easily

  • Save money that you can spend on other things

  • Have better smelling hair and clothes

  • Enjoy the taste of your food more

  • Feel good knowing you’ve done something great for yourself and your baby.

EverytimeYouSmoke_Boarder.png

Everything changes when you’re pregnant. Now is the time to quit.

Common Concerns

Quitting Smoking: Common Concerns and Myths

Tips for Quitting

Tips for Quitting

Congratulations on making the important first step to better health for you and your baby. The best strategy is to set a plan and to take quitting one day at a time.

Getting Ready to Quit

  • Plan a date to quit smoking and work toward it.

  • Ask for help. Tell your friends, family, and doctor about your plan to stop smoking.

  • Throw away all cigarettes, ashtrays, and lighters.

  • Plan how you will deal with stress—listen to music, take a walk, or talk to a friend who doesn’t smoke.

  • Reward yourself. Put a quarter in a jar for every cigarette you skip. Use the money to treat yourself.

  • Keep yourself motivated. Write down why you are quitting and remind yourself about it daily.

  • Not ready to quit? Try skipping 3 or 4 cigarettes a day.

Resources
If you're planning to quit smoking, identifying people to support you is key to your success. Those people can be friends and family, or you can reach out to organizations in Baltimore City who are here to support you on your quit journey.​

Smoke-free Resources

SupportGroup_icon_purple.png

Support Groups

Talk to other birthing families about dealing with stress.

Upton/Druid Heights:

410-706-6131

Patterson Park North & East:

443-703-3676

Smoking Cessation MD Quitline

You can earn gift cards for calling the Quitline while you are pregnant and after your baby is born.

1-800-QUIT-NOW

Smoking_icon.png

Smoking Cessation Classes

Referrals to smoking cessation counseling and classes. 

410-545-1530

24/7 Substance Use/Mental Health Help

If you are in crisis, this helpline will connect you to immediate help and services.

410-433-5175
bottom of page