When you’re pregnant, everything that goes into your body goes into your baby’s body as well. Suddenly, it’s not only your health that is important, but also your child’s.
Cigarettes contain 4,000 chemicals, 43 of which have been linked to cancer. While cigarettes are harmful for adults, they are even more dangerous to fetuses. The more you smoke while pregnant, the greater your chances are of having complications in your pregnancy, or even losing your child.
7 Ways Smoking Can Effect Your Pregnancy
When you smoke, those harmful toxins are carried throughout your bloodstream, directly to your baby. These chemicals can cause a number of problems with your child including:
1. Low birth weights
2. Miscarriages and stillbirths
3. Increased fetal heart rate
4. Premature delivery
5. Birth defects
6. Respiratory issues
7. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
With every cigarette you smoke, you increase the likelihood of your baby having one of these conditions. It’s heartbreaking having a sick child, however, that pain is made even worse by knowing it was something you could have prevented.
The Dangers of Secondhand Smoke
Just because you do not smoke doesn’t mean your child is safe from the negative effects of cigarettes. If someone in your household smokes, or you are regularly in the presence of a smoker, the secondhand smoke can affect your baby’s development.
The Center for Disease Control states that secondhand smoke can be just as harmful for your child as smoking yourself. It also states that children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop allergies and asthma.
While pregnant, it’s important to try and stay away from individuals who smoke as much as possible. Declare your home a “smoke-free” environment, and don’t allow others to smoke in close proximity to you.
Struggling to Quit Smoking While Pregnant? Contact OB-GYN Women’s Centre Lakewood Ranch for Consultation
It is never too late to quit smoking! Even if you have been smoking while pregnant, it’s not too late to stop. Quitting at any point in your pregnancy will help increase the chances of your having a happy, healthy baby.
If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, and are concerned about your smoking habits, contact OB-GYN Women’s Centre of Lakewood Ranch today. Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals will help you find a way of cutting out cigarettes that is healthy for you and your baby. Call OB-GYN Women’s Centre or request your appointment online.
