Pregnancy and Smoking
There’s no question about it: Smoking is dangerous for you and your baby. Smoking during pregnancy increases your risk of:
• Preterm birth, which means delivering your baby before the 37th week of pregnancy. Preterm birth puts your baby at risk of low birth weight and other health problems.
• Problems with the placenta, which nourishes your baby during pregnancy.
• Stillbirth, in which the baby dies in the uterus before it’s born.
• Having a low-birth-weight baby. Babies born at weights lower than 51/2 pounds are more likely to have health problems and chronic disabilities.
• Having a child with certain birth defects.
• Having your baby die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) after birth. SIDS occurs when an apparently healthy baby dies unexpectedly during sleep.
• Having a baby with behavioral difficulties and chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma.
How does smoking cause so much damage? Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals. Two of them — carbon monoxide and nicotine — are toxins that can move through your bloodstream and harm your developing baby. Both can reduce the flow of oxygen to the fetus. And nicotine, which causes your heartbeat and blood pressure to increase and your blood vessels to constrict, can also decrease your baby’s supply of nutrients.
It’s best to stop smoking before you become pregnant and give up the habit completely, even after the baby is born. It’s also wise to keep you and your baby away from the smoke of other smokers. Regular exposure to secondhand smoke appears to be capable of causing health problems for your child before and after birth.
If you’re still smoking after becoming pregnant, remember that it’s never too late to quit. Even if you stop late in pregnancy, you can reduce your baby’s exposure to dangerous chemicals. Quitting for good also reduces your risk of developing cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
Smoking is an addiction and a habit. Stopping can be very difficult. If you’re ready to break the habit, ask your health care provider for help. It’s especially important to consult with your health care provider before using products such as nicotine patches and gum. Although these products can help you stop smoking, risks are associated with using them during pregnancy. Your health care provider can help you weigh the benefits and risks of smoking cessation products and help you find support or classes in your area.
Tags: Bad effects of smoking when pregnant, harmful effects of smoking when pregnant, Healthy pregnancy, negative effect of smoking when pregnant, pregnancy and smoking, pregnancy tips, pregnany advices
Posted in Pregnancy
