There are numerous health risks associated with smoking, and smoking during pregnancy causes health problems for you and your baby. When you smoke, your baby smokes. The poisons you inhale in cigarettes, such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, and lead, cross the placenta and keep your baby from getting the proper nutrients and oxygen needed to grow. Smoking can make it harder to conceive, and smoking during pregnancy can lead to pre-term birth, birth defects, and even infant death.
Smoking during pregnancy can cause the following health problems:
- Trouble conceiving
- Increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
- Problems with the placenta, such as the placenta separating from the womb too early, which is dangerous to the mother and baby
- Pre-term birth and low birth weight for the baby, leading to more health problems for the baby
- Increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Increased risk of the baby developing respiratory (lung) problems
- Increased risk of birth defects, such as cleft lip or cleft palate
Stopping smoking will not only benefit your health, but it will significantly improve your baby’s health as well. Ask your health provider for details on programs to help you quit. START BY OBSERVING WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY – TODAY!