Smoking and Pregnancy...Helping to break the link

It is never too late to stop smoking. Every cigarette you decide not to smoke will help you and your baby's health. A baby in the womb receives everything from its mother. Nutrients and oxygen come via the placenta and umbilical cord. Smoking not only exposes the foetus to toxins in tobacco smoke, but it also damages placental function.

When a person smokes, some of the oxygen in their blood is replaced by carbon monoxide. If a pregnant woman smokes, her blood and therefore her child's blood will contain less oxygen than normal. This can cause the foetal heart rate to rise as the baby struggles to get enough oxygen.

As well as displaying the mother’s CO levels in parts per million (PPM) the Baby CO will immediately display the carbon monoxide levels (%FCOHB) of the unborn foetus.