On average, smokers not only have to wait longer to get pregnant. Smoking also increases the risk of developmental disorders of the placenta and premature births and miscarriages. Overall, children of smokers are more likely to have respiratory problems after birth and are more likely to develop asthma and allergies.

If women stop smoking before or early during their pregnancy, they can reduce a number of health risks and thus ensure better starting conditions for their baby:

• The risk of miscarriage decreases.
• Premature birth is less likely.
• The child's lungs can develop better.
• The risk of stillbirth decreases.
• The child is less susceptible to infectious diseases or allergic reactions.
• The risk of asthma decreases.
• The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) decreases.

Passive smoking can also be harmful!

What many people don't know: Various harmful substances are more concentrated in sidestream smoke - the smoke that comes out of the front of the smoldering cigarette - than in the mainstream smoke that smokers inhale directly. This is why it is so dangerous for babies to be in rooms where people smoke. This also applies to pregnant women.

Babies who are exposed to cigarette smoke in the home are at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. As smoke particles and harmful substances are also deposited on furniture, curtains and carpets and are constantly released back into the air, homes and cars should be declared smoke-free zones.

Many people see them as a safe alternative. However, water pipes and vaping e-cigarettes also contain harmful substances. They are not only harmful to your own body, but also to your unborn baby.

Even if it may not always be easy, pregnant women should avoid alcohol altogether. As it enters the baby's bloodstream via the umbilical cord, the unborn child always has the same alcohol level as the mother.

As a result of regular and occasional alcohol consumption by expectant mothers, several thousand children are born in Germany every year with the full picture of so-called alcohol embryopathy (fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS) or minor signs of alcohol-related organ damage (FASD). The alcohol-related damage can vary in severity and is fully developed in one in ten of these children. They are often underweight, have growth disorders, reduced intelligence, behavioral problems and other physical and mental impairments, some of which are severe and irreversible.

All types of drugs - including so-called soft drugs such as cannabis - can be dangerous for the unborn child. This also applies if they are only consumed occasionally.

All active ingredients in drugs enter the bloodstream of the unborn child via the umbilical cord. However, as the organs and the immune system of unborn children are not yet fully developed, they cannot protect themselves against the toxins that enter. Possible consequences of drug use during pregnancy are developmental delays in the child, malformations and premature births.

You probably have a lot of questions and concerns that we can discuss together in a counseling session at AWO Salto Suchthilfe. Counseling is free of charge and your issues will be treated confidentially. The staff at AWO Salto Suchthilfe will work with you to find out what help might be suitable for you and support you in taking the next steps.

• Internet pages of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA)
• www.kinderaerzte-im-netz.de
  Website of the Professional Association of Pediatricians and Adolescent Doctors (BVKJ)

To help you and your partner relax and prepare for the birth, both independent midwives and our family education centers offer appropriate courses. These courses focus on breathing and relaxation exercises, helpful birth positions and how to prepare well for the birth of your child. In principle, you can always consult your gynecologist. However, there are also additional offers from various providers and specialists.

Here you can find a flyer on midwives in Salzgitter and the surrounding area: