Pregnancy is a very special time when your baby is growing and developing. You can give your baby the best start in life by stopping smoking. Smoking cigarettes, ‘rollies’, or vaping during pregnancy passes directly to the baby and can have implications for your baby’s health.

We recognise that many women want to give up smoking but find it difficult - that is why we are here to help. Our ‘Smoke-Free Start’ service allows you to avail of specialist smoking cessation support by our specially trained midwife and with our support you can double your chances of successfully quitting. 

This service is offered to all;

• Pregnant women who smoke
• Pregnant women who have recently quit and would like support to stay quit
• Women planning a pregnancy

You can ask your midwife, doctor, or GP to refer you to the service or you can contact our midwife yourself at the number below if you would like support to quit.

Smoke-Free Start Clinics

These clinics are one-to-one and offered face-to-face, or by telephone. We are able to suit your personal circumstances.

Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH)

Monday 8.30 – 12.30

Tuesday 8.30 - 17.00

Wednesday 8.30 - 17.00

Thursday 8.30 – 12:30

Benefits of quitting

There are 7,000 chemicals in each cigarette. Every time you inhale these chemicals they also pass to your baby. They reduce the oxygen and nutrition needed by your baby to grow and can also cause complications for you during the pregnancy.

By quitting smoking you will benefit as follows:

• It will reduce the risk of miscarriage / it will be easier to become pregnant
• It reduces complications during the pregnancy, ensuring a healthier pregnancy for you and your baby
• It allows your baby the benefit of growing in a chemical-free environment, so your baby will be healthier when it is born
• It reduces the incidence of growth problems and stillbirth
• It reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Your child will have a healthier home environment to grow up in, reducing the risk of asthma.

 Contact

For support please contact Majella Phelan, Smoking Cessation Midwife, Cork University Maternity Hospital

Phone: 087 151 4202

Other support is also available here.