Is Secondhand Smoke Safe During Pregnancy?

Is secondhand smoke safe during pregnancy?

Secondhand smoke should be avoided in pregnancy because it raises the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, and SIDS, so ask others not to smoke around you and avoid smoke-filled environments. In short, secondhand smoke is best avoided during pregnancy when you follow the guidance below.

Why experts give this advice

In pregnancy, activities are weighed on three things: the risk of a fall or abdominal impact, the chance of overheating, and how hard your heart and joints are working as your body changes. Staying active is healthy — it is specific risks, not movement itself, that matter.

Safer alternatives

It's wise to set secondhand smoke aside until after pregnancy. There's almost always a lower-risk way to get the same benefit — a gentler version that avoids the fall, impact, or overheating risk. Your provider can suggest a good substitute for your stage.

What about breastfeeding?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding aren't the same — some things limited in pregnancy are perfectly fine once you're nursing, and occasionally the reverse. For secondhand smoke while breastfeeding, check with your provider, since the answer can differ from the pregnancy guidance above.

The bottom line

Secondhand Smoke: best avoided in pregnancy. When in doubt, choose a safer alternative and ask your provider. This page is general education, not medical advice — your provider knows your history and is the final word for your pregnancy.