MyHealth.Alberta.ca Network
MyHealth.Alberta.ca Network
  • Folic Acid
  • Healthy Mind & Body
    • Abuse
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Healthy Relationships
    • Immunization
    • Mental Health and Stress
    • Physical Activity
    • Sedentary Behaviour
    • Travel Safety
  • Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis
    • Alcohol
    • Tobacco
    • Cannabis
  • Other Substances
  • Age
  • Medicine Herbal Products & Supplements
  • Weight
  • Environmental Risks
    • Chemicals
    • Food Handling
    • Heat
    • Occupational Hazards
  • Seeing an Expert
    • Already Pregnant
    • Dental Health
    • Fertility
    • Genetic Risk
    • Health and Family History
    • STIs and Safer Sex Practices
  • Reproductive Life Plan
  • I’m Ready Home
I'm not Ready!
Ready or Not
My To-do List

What are some reasons to quit using tobacco and vaping products before getting pregnant?

One of the best ways for anyone to improve their health and decrease the risk of disease is to stop using tobacco and vaping products. This can also increase fertility and reduce the risk of harm to a developing baby or child.

Benefits of quitting include:

  • lower risk of diseases linked to smoking tobacco: heart disease, type 2 diabetes, many cancers, lung and breathing problems, early death
  • less chance of problems with fertility (getting pregnant), miscarriage and birth defects. (Nicotine can impact quality of sperm and later increase these health risks too)
  • less chance of smoking related health risks: slowdown in growth of the developing baby, premature birth, low birth weight baby, and complications during labour that can lead to death of the parent, baby or both. Babies born at a healthy birth weight are less likely to have infections and other health problems.
  • less chance of harmful effects from nicotine on a child’s ability to learn and think such as with decision-making, hearing, emotions and behaviour. (Nicotine is found in these products and may impair brain development)

See more benefits for quitting smoking here.

For more information to lower your risk, go to Tobacco Use, Smoking and Vaping

?
Alberta Health Services
  • About Us
  • Terms of Use / Privacy Statement
  • Healthy Parents, Healthy Children
  • Pregnancy Options
  • Contact us

We acknowledge that Alberta is the land of Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and Treaty 8, and the home of eight Metis Settlements and the Métis Nation within Alberta. We recognize the many diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people whose ancestors walked this land before us, and whose land we share today. We make this acknowledgment as an act of reconciliation and gratitude, and strive to work in partnership to build strong, positive, and healthy relationships.

Associated trade-marks and logos are trade-marks of their respective entities.

© 2025 Alberta Health Services. All rights reserved.