Much debate has surrounded the use of nicotine replacement therapy among pregnant women. Why? Concerns about using NRT during pregnancy stem from the observed teratogenicity of nicotine itself in animals.
However, in recent years, great organizations such as Motherisk (www.motherrisk.org) have shown that physicians can monitor nicotine serum levels in pregnant women using the patch and thus ensure their concentrations do not exceed levels encountered during smoking.
The answer to this question? This must be judged by your healthcare provider and the answer will depend on a number of factors including:
* Your medical history * If you've already attempted to quit * Your pregnancy risks
