To improve your health and the health of your baby, it is important to quit smoking. Options available in pregnancy include many alternative sources of nicotine (patches, gum, lollipops, or electronic cigarettes). However, this 2014 study[1] suggested that overall the most effective way to quit is to quit without any medications. Another study showed that quitting smoking actually reduced stress and anxiety (contrary to most people’s first thoughts about smoking reducing stress!) [2]

Abrupt stopping on the quit day and gradual reduction to stop are associated with equal quit rates. Gradual smoking reduction methods include reducing smoking by a certain amount daily or weekly, increasing the time between cigarettes, and increasing the time from waking to the first cigarette of the day. All gradual reduction methods should culminate in a quit day.