Alcohol and smoking during pregnancy: the risks to your baby, secondhand smoke, and where to get help to quit in Singapore

Alcohol and smoking during pregnancy both harm a growing baby, and Singapore's hospitals put it simply: there is no known safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy, and no number of cigarettes below which smoking doesn't affect the baby. SingHealth's KKH team says smoking raises the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, a small baby and preterm birth, and that babies of mothers who smoke weigh on average 300g less. Alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome at any point in pregnancy, and it has no cure. The good news is that stopping helps whenever you do it, and Singapore has free help: call QuitLine on 1800 438 2000, or join HPB's I Quit programme. Vaping isn't a safer swap; it's illegal here.

What smoking does in pregnancy

Cigarette smoke reaches your baby through your blood. SingHealth's KKH pages list what that does:

Cutting down isn't enough. SingHealth says there's no cut-off point at which smoking doesn't affect the baby, and the best advice is not to smoke at all. Our guide to prenatal check-ups and scans explains the growth scans that check your baby's size.

Secondhand and third-hand smoke

Other people's smoke matters too. HPB says women exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in pregnancy are more likely to have a miscarriage or stillbirth, and SingHealth suggests the husband doesn't smoke in the mother's presence. HPB also warns about third-hand smoke: the particles that stay on clothes, sofas and curtains after a cigarette is put out. If your partner or a family member smokes, ask them to smoke outside, away from open windows, change their top afterwards, and never smoke in the car or near the baby once it's born.

What alcohol does in pregnancy

Alcohol crosses the placenta to your baby. HealthXchange says fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can affect a baby at any point in pregnancy and there's no medically safe level of alcohol; HPB adds that experts have yet to set a safe amount, and that there's no medical treatment for FAS. SingHealth's advice is the same: there is no known safe amount, so don't drink while pregnant or trying to conceive. Heavy drinking is also linked with miscarriage, HealthXchange notes.

If you drank before you knew

Many pregnancies aren't confirmed for several weeks, and the US CDC notes a woman may not know for 4 to 6 weeks. If you had a drink or two before you found out, HealthXchange's advice is not to be too alarmed, as the risk comes with more than one drink a day. Stop now, and mention it at your first appointment if it's on your mind.

Alcohol in food and drinks

• Cooking: a KKH dietitian says dishes cooked with alcohol, such as wine in a stew, are fine if they simmer for at least 30 minutes with the lid off so the alcohol evaporates. Confinement dishes made with rice wine follow the same rule; our guide to what to drink during confinement covers them after the birth.
• Desserts: tiramisu, rum balls and liqueur chocolates contain uncooked alcohol, so skip them.
• Kombucha and some fermented drinks can contain traces of alcohol; our guide to what pregnant women can eat covers them.

Quitting smoking in Singapore: where to get help

Stopping at any stage helps you and your baby, and the free help in Singapore works best when you combine support with a plan. HPB says counselling plus medication or nicotine replacement can double your chances of quitting for good.

Nicotine patches and gum in pregnancy

Singapore's HealthHub page on nicotine addiction asks pregnant women to speak to a healthcare professional before using any nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The UK's NHS says NRT can be used in pregnancy if it helps you stop and you can't stop without it, and that stop-smoking tablets such as varenicline and bupropion aren't recommended in pregnancy. So talk to your doctor or the quit clinic first; they can weigh patches or gum against continuing to smoke.

Practical tips that help

• Pick a quit date and tell your partner and family, so they can support you and keep cigarettes out of the house.
• Know your triggers, such as after meals, with coffee or with friends who smoke, and plan what you'll do instead.
• Ask your partner to quit with you, so the house becomes smoke-free for both of you.
• If you slip, don't give up; get back to your quit plan the next day and call QuitLine.

Vaping and e-cigarettes are not a safer swap

Some smokers switch to vapes thinking they're safer in pregnancy. In Singapore they're illegal: HealthHub says it's against the law to possess, buy, use, import or sell e-cigarettes, and that from 1 May 2026, owning one could mean a fine of up to $10,000. HPB also notes vape liquids can contain even more concentrated nicotine than cigarettes, and HealthHub has warned about vapes laced with etomidate, a sedative; call 995 if someone collapses after using one. If you vape, HealthHub lists the pharmacy Start to S.T.O.P. programme for quitting vapes as well.

After the birth

Staying smoke-free after the birth protects your baby, because SingHealth and HealthXchange both link smoking with a higher risk of SIDS. Keep your home and car smoke-free; our guide to swaddles and sleep sacks covers other safe-sleep basics. If you're breastfeeding, our guide to what to eat while breastfeeding covers alcohol and caffeine.

Frequently asked questions

Is any amount of alcohol safe in pregnancy?

No. SingHealth says there is no known safe amount of alcohol, and HealthXchange says fetal alcohol syndrome can affect a baby at any point in pregnancy.

I drank before I knew I was pregnant. Should I worry?

Try not to panic. HealthXchange says the risk comes with more than one drink a day. Stop now and mention it at your first appointment.

How does smoking affect my baby?

SingHealth says smoking doubles the risk of early miscarriage, makes stillbirth and preterm birth more likely, and that babies of smokers weigh about 300g less on average.

Where can I get help to quit smoking in Singapore?

Call QuitLine on 1800 438 2000, join HPB's I Quit programme on HealthHub, ask your antenatal team for a referral, or ask your pharmacy about Start to S.T.O.P.

Can I use nicotine patches while pregnant?

Ask your doctor first. HealthHub asks pregnant women to speak to a professional before using nicotine replacement; the NHS says it can be used if you can't quit without it.

Is vaping safer than smoking in pregnancy?

No, and it's illegal in Singapore. HealthHub says owning a vape could mean a fine of up to $10,000 from 1 May 2026, and vape liquids can hold even more concentrated nicotine.