‘Quit for you, quit for two’:

One in seven Australian women smoke during pregnancy. Almost half of all pregnant Indigenous women do and 37 per cent of pregnant teenagers.

To help women understand why smoking and pregnancy are not a good mix, a new campaign has been rolled-out which aims to support women rather than shame them into quitting.

"Education and support are the best way forward for helping people give up. We know that tobacco is a very strong addiction," said Federal Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek.

"I'm sure that most women who are smoking while they're pregnant would like to give up."

The Quit For You, Quit For Two ads will run across TV, radio, print and social media, highlighting the dangers of smoking during pregnancy. A new smarphone app is also available to help expectant mothers. Other ads are aimed specifically at the Indigenous community.

"Tobacco control is the best thing we can do for cancer control," said Professor Ian Olver, CEO of the Cancer Council.

"It's very important not to be punishing people for addiction but to help them give up."

Government figures show smoking kills an estimated 15,000 Australians each year and costs the country $31.5 billion annually.

The government has pledged to bring national smoking rates down to 10 per cent of the population by 2018. From next month, all cigarettes have to be sold in plain packaging.

Professor Olver says tobacco taxes and plain packaging have important roles to play, but it is also worth reminding the public of the health benefits of quitting.

"The first repair is actually within just days, because the lining of the lung starts repairing itself," he said.

"Then over time there are slower repair processes and it can take years or decades to return to normal, but every day you quit takes you closer."