Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy

5:59:12

2019-06-11

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If your health isn't enough to make you quit smoking, then the health of your baby should be. Smoking during pregnancy affects you and your baby's health before, during, and after your baby is born. The nicotine (the addictive substance in cigarettes), carbon monoxide, and numerous other poisons you inhale from a cigarette are carried through your bloodstream and go directly to your baby. Smoking while pregnant will:

Lower the amount of oxygen available to you and your growing baby
Increase your baby's heart rate
Increase the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth
Increase the risk that your baby is born prematurely and/or born with low birth weight
Increase your baby's risk of developing respiratory (lung) problems
Increases risks of birth defects
Increases risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

The more cigarettes you smoke per day, the greater your baby's chances of developing these and other health problems. There is no "safe" level of smoking while pregnant.

How Does Secondhand Smoke Affect Pregnancy?

Secondhand smoke (also called passive smoke or environmental tobacco smoke) is the combination of smoke from a burning cigarette and smoke exhaled by a smoker.

The smoke that burns off the end of a cigarette or cigar actually contains more harmful substances (tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine, and others) than the smoke inhaled by the smoker.

If you are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke while pregnant, you will have an increased chance of having a stillbirth, a low birthweight baby, a baby with birth defects, and other complications of pregnancy.

Babies and children exposed to secondhand smoke may also develop asthma, allergies, more frequent lung and ear infections, and are at higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

How Can I Quit Smoking Before or During Pregnancy?

There are many smoking cessation programs available to help you quit smoking. Ask your health care provider for more information about these programs.

Here are some tips that may help you kick the habit:

Hide your matches, lighters, and ashtrays.
Designate your home a non-smoking area.
Ask people who smoke not to smoke around you.
Drink fewer caffeinated beverages; caffeine may stimulate your urge to smoke. Also avoid alcohol, as it may also increase your urge to smoke and can be harmful to your baby.
Change your habits connected with smoking. If you smoked while driving or when feeling stressed, try other activities to replace smoking.
Keep mints or gum (preferably sugarless) on hand for those times when you get the urge to smoke.
Stay active to keep your mind off smoking and help relieve tension: take a walk, exercise, read a book, or try a new a hobby.
Look for support from others. Join a support group or smoking cessation program.
Do not go to places where many people are smoking such as bars or clubs, and smoking sections of restaurants.