“Cigarettes can restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby, so their heart has to beat harder every time you smoke.”
It states children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma and other more serious illnesses that may need hospital treatment.
It adds: “The sooner you stop smoking, the better. But even if you stop in the last few weeks of your pregnancy, this will benefit you and your baby.”
Top 10 Holistic Tips to Help You Quit Smoking
1. Identify your triggers(01 of10)
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Understanding what drives you to want or need a cigarette, or knowing what drives your desire to smoke is key to helping you quit. Once you know what they are, you can try and avoid these situations (or at least be prepared for them) (credit:Dave and Les Jacobs via Getty Images)
2. Taking up more exercise(02 of10)
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Exercise is the answer to many problems, helping with confidence issues, fitness levels, as well as, happiness. Being active will help you quit the dreaded habit, since it will not only make you feel great, but it will also help you to take your mind of any cravings (credit:Aleksandar Nakic via Getty Images)
3. Learn to de-stress(03 of10)
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Making an effort to de-stress and calm your mind is key to being able to cut the cravings. Many people smoke to help relieve their stress, but if you can de-stress without cigarettes then you will be on the slow and steady pathway to successfully quitting the habit. You will eventually realise, that mentally, you don’t need a cigarette (credit:Chris Gramly via Getty Images)
4. Talk it out(04 of10)
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It is really important to speak up when you are having a bad day, and are struggling to stay off cigarettes. Often talking things through will help you understand how you are feeling, and what it is that is driving you need or want a cigarette. Once you know what’s behind your cravings, you can go about making changes without the need for a cigarette. This will also help you, mentally and physically, realise that you don’t really need it (credit:Shutterstock / bikeriderlondon)
5. Using an alternative(05 of10)
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People often use alternative nicotine products to help cut the cravings. They come in a range of products, from gum and patches, through to inhalers and sweets. You can also use e-cigarettes such as Socialites which allow you to vape without the 4,000 harmful chemicals or 60 known carcinogens found in traditional cigarettes. While not a quitting aid, they are a much healthier alternative to smoking and have a higher success rate as users still get to experience the hand-to-mouth action associated with smoking traditional cigarettes (credit:Carol Yepes via Getty Images)
6. Success with Friends(06 of10)
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It’s really important when trying to quit that you have a support network around you, so that you don’t feel alone. It’s often good to club together and quit with friends or family members who smoke, as together you can be successful and reach your goal (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)
7. Reward yourself(07 of10)
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With the money you have saved from reducing the amount you smoke (or if you have managed to quit all together), it’s a good idea to treat or reward yourself with something nice as an incentive to stay off cigarettes in the future (credit:Jack Hollingsworth via Getty Images)
8. Replacement(08 of10)
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Many people often try the replacement technique, replacing cigarettes for something else; often food. This is a good idea, so long as the smoking habit is being replaced with something healthy or productive, such as learning a new skill (credit:Shutterstock / svry)
9. Why do you want to quit?(09 of10)
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Often making a list of reasons of why you want to quit and putting them up in different areas of your flat or house is a good way to keep you on track and ultimately off the cigarettes. It acts as a reminder of why you are quitting and importantly reminds you of your overall goal (credit:Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)
10. Seek out encouragement(10 of10)
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It’s often a good idea to tell co-workers, and other people around you, that you are planning to quit smoking so they can help encourage you and spur you on. If they see that you are flagging they will be able to get you back on track (credit:Robert Daly via Getty Images)