The Consequences for Your Baby if You Smoke while Pregnancy
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 4:04:03 AM
Many women know that smoking while pregnant puts their unborn child at risk. However, the complete extent of that risk is probably unknown. Smoking while pregnant puts the child at risk for a long list of possible consequences. Your child may even suffer from negative effects if you inhale second hand smoke. It becomes more about protecting your unborn child than just protecting yourself. You can find many safe methods to quit smoking and if you're not supported at home, there are support systems in place. The following is information on the devastating effects smoking while pregnant can have on your child.
Cigarettes have hundreds of added chemicals which attack all of the systems. The baby's immune system is compromised, and the effect of that is the general tendency to be sick more often with colds and other infections. Smoking during pregnancy has also been connected to several respiratory issues. Also, the future child may experience problems with normal growth as a result, too.
Babies of smoking mothers are displaying an interesting trend. Babies with smoking mothers have a higher heart rate than those of babies whose mothers didn't smoke. Women who smoke have babies with a heart rate that is approximately 30% higher. This applies to women who smoked during pregnancy. It is difficult to know the exact cause of this condition. However, when you consider that the baby was not receiving the normal amount of oxygen due to the smoking, then perhaps that played a part in it.
The immediate, physical consequences of smoking while pregnant is naturally the focus. However, there is more evidence accumulating that suggests a correlation to negative effects more evident in behavioral difficulties. For example, there is a range of problems including learning disabilities and general behavioral issues. There are many known effects on the unborn child when a pregnant woman smokes. More research needs to be done as there is still much to be learned. But the bottom line is clear when it comes to the negative effects of smoking on a fetus. So if you're pregnant, it's vital to find a way to quit smoking. Thinking it's too hard or simply not being ready to is why most people don't quit. We strongly encourage you to do more reading and research on this subject. Talk to your doctor to get help with beating a nicotine addiction as soon as possible, especially if you think are pregnant.
Cigarettes have hundreds of added chemicals which attack all of the systems. The baby's immune system is compromised, and the effect of that is the general tendency to be sick more often with colds and other infections. Smoking during pregnancy has also been connected to several respiratory issues. Also, the future child may experience problems with normal growth as a result, too.
Babies of smoking mothers are displaying an interesting trend. Babies with smoking mothers have a higher heart rate than those of babies whose mothers didn't smoke. Women who smoke have babies with a heart rate that is approximately 30% higher. This applies to women who smoked during pregnancy. It is difficult to know the exact cause of this condition. However, when you consider that the baby was not receiving the normal amount of oxygen due to the smoking, then perhaps that played a part in it.
The immediate, physical consequences of smoking while pregnant is naturally the focus. However, there is more evidence accumulating that suggests a correlation to negative effects more evident in behavioral difficulties. For example, there is a range of problems including learning disabilities and general behavioral issues. There are many known effects on the unborn child when a pregnant woman smokes. More research needs to be done as there is still much to be learned. But the bottom line is clear when it comes to the negative effects of smoking on a fetus. So if you're pregnant, it's vital to find a way to quit smoking. Thinking it's too hard or simply not being ready to is why most people don't quit. We strongly encourage you to do more reading and research on this subject. Talk to your doctor to get help with beating a nicotine addiction as soon as possible, especially if you think are pregnant.

