Smoking During Pregnancy: Risks to the Pregnancy and Harm to the Baby

by HidingInABunker

Smoking During Pregnancy: Risks to the Pregnancy and Harm to the Baby

Smoking during pregnancy is one of the worst things you can do. When you smoke, your baby smokes too. There about 600 ingredients in cigarettes, and when a cigarette is burned, it releases over 4,000 chemicals. Many of these are poisons, and at least 50 of these chemicals cause cancer. So when you take a puff, your growing baby gets exposed to these harmful pollutants too. Because your baby is developing inside you, exposure to these pollutants can be very detrimental to his overall health and the safety of your pregnancy.

The nicotine and tar in your cigarette decreases the level of oxygen and nutrients that your baby receives. This can slow down your baby’s growth and development, and it puts you at risk for miscarriage and stillbirths (a baby with no heartbeat).

Luckily, if you quit smoking immediately, your baby’s growth will return to normal shortly.

Smoking during pregnancy has been associated with 5 percent of infant deaths, 10 percent of preterm births, and 30 percent in low birth weight babies. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can also increase:

Infertility—When compared to women who don’t smoke, smokers have a 30 percent increased risk of being infertile. They also experience a delay in conception—i.e. it’s harder to get pregnant when you smoke. Placental Abruption—A serious and dangerous complication that can occur during the third trimester of pregnancy. It occurs when your placenta separates from your uterine lining. Placental abruption can cause vaginal bleeding, resulting in fetal distress, uterine tenderness, and increased frequency of contractions. Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PRROM)—Your water breaks early, before the onset of real labor. Placenta Previa—Your placenta grows in the lowest part of the uterus, which can cause problems for the baby. You may bleed and require prompt care. Some women are even hospitalized.

It is estimated that over 20 percent of American women in their childbearing years smoke cigarettes, despite knowing its harmful effects. In 2005, the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey reported that 14 percent of women smoke during pregnancy.

Babies who are born to women who smoked during pregnancy are also at an increased risk of having a cleft lip or cleft palate. A cleft palate occurs when there is a split in the baby’s lip and the roof of his/her mouth, creating a hole between the nose and mouth. Surgery is often used to reconstruct that part of the baby’s face.

The danger of smoke doesn’t end when your baby is born. Being around smoke can also put your newborn baby at risk.

When exposed to secondhand smoke, babies have an increased risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). As they grow, your child is at an increased risk of developing asthma, respiratory problems, ear infections, pneumonia, and bronchitis.

Because the babies of smokers tend to be premature and have low birth weights, they are also at an increased risk of serious lifelong health problems, such as mental retardation, learning problems, and cerebral palsy.  These babies are also more likely to have birth defects, including congenital heart defects.

The more you smoke during pregnancy, the more harm it will do to your baby. It is very important to try to quit smoking. Even if you can’t kick the habit completely, try to limit your daily cigarette intake.

Make an appointment to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your desire to quit smoking. They can refer you to a smoking cessation program and offer other ways to help you quit.

Remember to surround yourself in a positive environment. You are more likely to succeed if you have the support of friends and family who understand the harmful effects of smoking.

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