Smoking during pregnancy
Smoking is one of the most damaging things you can do to your unborn baby.
When you inhale cigarette smoke, carbon monoxide and nicotine cross the placenta and prevent your baby from receiving adequate oxygen and nutrients. The effects have been linked to miscarriage, stillbirth, damage to the placenta, a higher risk of abnormalities and premature labor and birth.
Its effects can continue after your baby’s birth too, in the form of low birthweight; an increased risk of SIDS; and higher incidence of meningococcal infections, middle ear infections, asthma, bronchitis, childhood cancers and hyperactivity.
It’s worth quitting whatever point you’ve reached in your pregnancy; if you stop before the fourth month, the risk to your baby is considerably reduced. (If your partner smokes it’s important that he stops too, as secondhand smoke can be just as harmful.)
Use distractions to help you cope – reach for a book or a healthful snack at those times when you’d normally have a cigarette, or go for a walk instead. Keep your hands busy – worry beads are handy! It’s also good to make a list of all the reasons why you quit the habit and look at it if you’re tempted to smoke. Ask your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife before you try nicotine patches or gum, as there’s a risk these may also affect your baby.
For help and support when quitting smoking, call the American Cancer Society’s Quitline 1-800-227-2345
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Last Modified: 05/07/2007
Related Chat 7
id like 2 say gud luck 2 every1 whos quittin smokin thru there pregnancy! im a non smoker so avent smoked during pregnancys! but i understand it is hard 4 ppl 2 quit a habbit n u need support! jus fink of ur lil bubba in ur tummy! that will b enuff 2 get u thru the tough times! also ur babys health is paramount! keep up the gud work gals xxxx
i smoked all the way through my pregnacy didnt find out till i was over 4 months bby come out fine and healthy weighing 7 pounds
i found out i was pregnant later on in my pregnancy. i quit almost straight away on patches, this lasted over a month which is the 1 and only time in 11 years i have achived this. as time went on i went weaker and now im almost back to square 1! i have patches of my nurse but they dont seem to work any more im finding it harder and harder yet gaining so much stress in failing for my babys health as im 22 weeks gone now. i live at home with my mum she smokes and finds it harder than me to quit. i feel home is where i have found this whole stop smoking the hardest and failed in. i have rang my mid wife surrport only for 3 days to go by and no call back, i then rang them to be told she has gone away on holiday now. i have tried the nhs line and my nurse with many more wrong turns, it seems im at this alone and its hardest thing in my life and the most guilty feeling ever.if anyone has any advice i would welcome it so much.many thanks
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