Smoking During Pregnancy
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Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy
Smoking during Pregnancy
The nicotine in cigarettes makes your blood vessels constrict, so fewer nutrients and less oxygen can reach your baby. This can slow down your little one's growth and development, and it can put you at risk for delivering a stillborn baby (a baby that dies in the womb) and miscarriage. If you are pregnant, the sooner you quit smoking, the better off you and your baby will be. After you kick the habit, your baby's growth will soon return to normal. Quitting smoking early in your pregnancy lowers your risk of having a low birth weight baby. For women trying to get pregnant, keep in mind that smoking can increase your risk of being infertile by 30 percent. It also delays conception, so it may be harder for you to become pregnant. During pregnancy, smokers have an increased risk of serious pregnancy complications, such as placental abruption (when your placenta separates away from your uterine lining), preterm premature rupture of membranes (your water breaks before your due date or the onset of real labor occurs), and placenta previa (your placenta grows in the lowest part of your uterus). Smoking when pregnant has also been linked to 30 percent of low birth weight infants, 10 percent of premature babies, and 5 percent of infant deaths. According to the 2005 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey, an estimated 14 percent of American women smoke during pregnancy. Smoking can also harm your child after he or she is born. Secondhand smoke increases your baby's risk of dying from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). When your child gets older, he or she is at higher risk of developing asthma, respiratory problems, bronchitis, ear infections, and pneumonia. Since the infants of smoking mothers are more likely to have low birth weights and be born premature, they can face seriously lifelong health issues. These can include mental retardation and learning problems. If you are pregnant, it is vital that you try to quit smoking. If quitting completely is too difficult, limiting your daily cigarette intake can help. Surrounding yourself in a positive environment can also help you quit. Smokers who have the support of friends and family are more likely to succeed. Remember to talk to your doctor about your wish to quit. They can give you information about smoking cessation programs and other methods that will help you quit. Check out tobacco-cessation for great resources to help you quit smoking.
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