Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy

Cigarette smoking is one of the causes of several respiratory disorders in human beings. The smoke and nicotine in cigarette affects the lungs leading to respiratory diseases like lung cancer and other lung diseases. Therefore, we are all aware of the detrimental short and long term effects of smoking. Cigarette smoking is specially worse during pregnancy as both the baby as well as the mother can be harmed due to the effects of smoke.

Dangers of Smoking While Pregnant

Shockingly, it is found that there are around 10-15% women smoking cigarettes while pregnant. They are probably unaware of the short and long-term effects of smoking during pregnancy. Following is a list of some potential hazards:

• One of the early side effects of smoking in case of women is that it can moderately reduce fertility over time.
• Smoking increases the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth.
• Cigarette smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
• Babies of mother who smoke have a lower birth weight as compared to others.
• Another harmful result of smoking during pregnancy is decreased supply of oxygen to the mother and the baby. In case of baby, this leads to underdevelopment of organs.
• Nicotine side effects also include plancenta problems in case of the mother like placenta praevia and placental abruption.
• The constant exposure to carbon monoxide due to smoking, can increase the risk of respiratory diseases in the mother and also lead to abnormal or impaired growth in the baby.
• Premature labor is another major side effect of smoking in pregnant women. The mother may go into labor before 37 weeks gestation.
• Babies, exposed to cigarette smoke are at a higher risk of contracting respiratory diseases like asthma in future.
• Lastly, if the mother is a chain smoker, there are high chances of the baby to be born mentally retarded.

Dangers of Secondhand Smoke During Pregnancy

Apart from these harmful effects of smoking on the body of the mother and the baby; there are several other side effects caused due to passive smoking. One should note that secondhand smoke is also equally harmful to the mother and the baby. The following are the passive smoking effects experienced during pregnancy.

• Constant cough
• Lung cancer
• Asthma
• Persistent sore throat
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Tuberculosis
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Decreased milk production

Secondhand smoking can also affect the baby and increase its risk of chronic respiratory diseases. Secondly, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is one of the significant effects of secondhand smoke. It should be noted that there are chances of the baby suffering from SIDS merely be exposure to secondhand smoke; even when the mother did not smoke during pregnancy.

Apart from the aforementioned ones, you should note that there are several life-threatening diseases caused by smoking. It only proves that smoking deteriorates the body in the longer run. Therefore, it is wise to quit smoking as early as possible. Women should stop smoking long before they plan for pregnancy. There are several methods that help in quitting smoking. Pregnant women should also be careful to not to get exposed to secondhand smoke and request partners to stop or reduce smoking.

Lastly, one should note that merely reducing the amount of smoking is not enough; women should quit smoking completely to avoid any consequences during pregnancy and after childbirth. Take care!