Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, and birth defects. If you are a smoker and you are pregnant, the best thing you can do is quit. Many women have difficulty quitting smoking without the assistance of nicotine replacement therapy, which provides nicotine without the harmful effects of carbon monoxide and other substances that are inhaled through cigarettes. Although nicotine replacement therapy is also risky for the developing fetus, the benefit of quitting smoking may outweigh the risks.
There are several types of quitting smoking aids including patches, gum, and lozenges.
Types
There are several types of quitting smoking aids including patches, gum, and lozenges. According to the Mayo Clinic, nicotine patches work by slowly releasing nicotine into your bloodstream through your skin, while nicotine gum and nicotine lozenges work by releasing the drug via the lining of your mouth. Nicotine nasal spray is absorbed into the mucous membranes of the nose, while nicotine inhalers are absorbed through your mouth. Spray and inhalers are available with a doctor's prescription only.
Function
Nicotine replacement therapy can reduce cravings for nicotine from cigarettes, making quitting smoking easier. Most types of nicotine replacement contain about one half to one third of the nicotine contained in cigarettes, which may help you to slowly wean yourself from your addiction to nicotine.
Benefits
Using some type of nicotine replacement therapy may double your chances of being a non-smoker, and the effect may be greater if you are pregnant and have more incentive to stay away from smoking. According to Pollak et al in "Nicotine Replacement and Behavioral Therapy for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy," pregnant women were more likely to remain quit at 38 weeks gestation if they used nicotine replacement therapy than if they did not. The study was ended early due to concerns about women going into preterm labor. Nicotine replacement therapy does not contain the carbon monoxide, tar or other chemicals present in a burning cigarette, meaning that nicotine replacement therapy is safer than smoking.
Considerations
If you are pregnant and want to quit smoking, tell your doctor. She will likely suggest alternatives to nicotine replacement therapy such as bupropion, but if these alternatives have not worked, nicotine replacement therapy may be used. Nicotine replacement therapy usually works best for long term smokers in higher dosages, but if you are pregnant you should use the lowest dosage possible to control your cravings. According to the American Family Physician nicotine replacement therapy is considered a category D drug by the US Food and Drug Administration, which means that it has known risks to the developing fetus, but the risks are believed to be less than those of smoking cigarettes throughout the pregnancy.
Prognosis
Studies about the risks of using nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy have been contradictory, with some showing risks of low birth rate and preterm labor and others not showing this association. Avoid nicotine replacement therapy if you do not need to quit smoking. There are also considerable benefits to keeping your home smoke free after the baby is born.
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