Smoking, Drugs & Alcohol

It is advisable to discuss all medications you take during pregnancy with your LMC and/or GP, particularly if you have pre-existing medical conditions which involve regular medications as some may require dose adjustments or change.

Pain relief

Paracetamol is safe in pregnancy to provide pain relief and may assist to lower high temperatures.  Take no more than 4g in 24 hours.

NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) such as Ibuprofen/Nurofen should not be taken in the 3rd trimester as research suggests this may affect the amniotic fluid levels around baby and may affect baby’s heart. There is also some evidence that use in early pregnancy may cause miscarriage or heart defects in baby but further research into this is required.

Antihistamines/Cold or Flu relief

Discuss this with your LMC or GP or pharmacist to ensure you receive the correct medication for your condition

When a pregnant woman smokes, two individuals are exposed to the substances in tobacco smoke, the smoker and her unborn child.

If you are a smoker you significantly increase the risk of complications during pregnancy, and endanger the health of your baby.  During pregnancy the chemicals from cigarette smoke pass directly from your blood into the baby’s blood supply.  Carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas in tobacco smoke, makes it more likely that your baby will have an unhealthy birth weight.  On average your baby will weigh 200g less when it is born.  This isn’t healthy – smaller babies are much more likely to have difficulty breathing soon after the birth and to pick up infections.

If you smoke you increase your risk of:

• miscarriage
• bleeding
• your waters breaking earlier (as a result your baby might be born with an infection)
• your baby being born prematurely
• your baby dying just before or after birth
• your baby dying from cot death
• your baby being smaller and lighter than normal.

The ill effects continue well into the life of the child.  For example, if exposed to tobacco smoke before birth the child is more likely to become asthmatic.

Quitline is there to help you

Smoking is a powerful addiction.  You might have found it hard to give up in the past.  Quitline understands and is here to support you and to help you make a plan to quit.  You can call a Quitline advisor for free on 0800 778 778.  If you’d prefer not to talk to someone, you can also sign up at www.quit.org.nz  and access a range of online services to help you quit.

Use of patches, gum and lozenges

Pregnant and breastfeeding women can still use nicotine patches, gum and lozenges.  These products expose the fetus to lower levels of nicotine than from smoking and there is no exposure to the other toxic components of tobacco smoke.  This is far safer than smoking.  Prescription tablets to help you stop smoking are not recommended during pregnancy.

You and your baby have a lot to gain from you quitting, financially and health-wise.  No matter how far you are into your pregnancy, the moment you stop smoking you start increasing your chances of a healthy baby.

Secondhand smoke

Every time someone smokes around you, you and your baby are exposed to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.  After birth, smoking by either parent or exposure to tobacco smoke from other sources is a major factor in producing disease in the infant and child.  Problems include glue ear, sudden infant death, trigger of asthma attacks and respiratory infections.

You can minimise your exposure and your baby’s exposure to secondhand smoke by:

• making your home and car completely smoke-free
• encouraging your friends and family to go outside if they want to smoke
• avoiding, where you can, environments where other people have been or are smoking
• encouraging any smokers who live with you to get help to quit.

Using illegal drugs of any kind is dangerous for your baby. They increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. The risk is even higher if drugs are combined with alcohol.  Some street drugs are addictive (habit-forming), and you may need help to give them up. Don’t stop suddenly, the withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous for you and your baby. Talk to your LMC – people will be more interested in protecting you and your baby than anything else. You can be given help at specialist clinics to get you safely off the drugs as soon as possible.  ALCOHOL DRUG HELPLINE 0800 787 797

When you drink, so does your baby.  Alcohol in your blood is carried through the placenta to your baby.  Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect the development of your baby and as well as increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.  The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) and the Ministry of Health advise that there is no known safe level of alcohol use at any stage of pregnancy.  This includes the time around conception.  Women should stop drinking alcohol when pregnant or when planning a pregnancy.

Drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy can cause harm to the baby including developmental delay, physical, emotional and behavioural problems and learning disabilities. This range of effects is known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).  They are lifelong for the child and their family.  The more you drink, the greater the risk that your baby will have these kinds of problems.  Cutting out alcohol altogether avoids any possible harm.   If you are struggling to stop drinking, talk to your doctor or midwife or call the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797 for advice and support.  An ALAC pamphlet about alcohol and pregnancy and other information about stopping drinking are available by phoning 0508 258 258 or at www.alac.org.nz.

Your partner, other family members and friends can also help to support you to stop drinking during while you are pregnant.