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Why Shouldn't I Smoke During Pregnancy?
Maria Gonzalez
There are a lot of good reasons to quit smoking, but isn't your
baby the most compelling? Researchers agree that smoking during
pregnancy can be a leading contributor to a range of health
problems, both for the mother and the baby.
Smoking during pregnancy increases the amount of nicotine and
carbon monoxide, both poisonous, in the mother's bloodstream.
These chemicals restrict the blood vessels and limit the amount
of oxygen and nutrients traveling to the placenta, the tissue
that nourishes the baby. With less oxygen and nutrients reaching
the placenta, the growth of the baby is inhibited. Babies born to
smoking mothers are more likely to be premature and, if carried
to full term, smaller and underweight. These conditions often
mean special care and longer hospital stays for babies born to
smoking mothers.
Oxygen deprivation from smoking during pregnancy has been linked
to ectopic, or tubal, pregnancies, miscarriages and fetal brain
damage. Some studies even suggest smoking can be a contributing
factor in sudden infant death syndrome.
Smoking may affect the infant's blood pressure, and lead to
learning and developmental problems, such as Attention Deficit
Disorder and mental retardation. Additionally, smokers' babies
tend to have respiratory disorders during childhood, including
asthma.
Of course, birth doesn't' remove the baby from danger. Smoking
often interferes with breastfeeding, reducing milk supply.
Nicotine is also passed through the breast milk to the baby,
causing colic, cramping, nausea and diarrhea. Exposure to second
hand smoke is also a risk. Infants can absorb even more nicotine
in their respiratory systems than from breast milk, increasing
their risk of breathing problems.
There are two excellent reasons to quit smoking right away, your
health and your baby's health!
Maria writes for
www.Pregnancy-Due-Date.com , a site that tries to
information for expectant mothers. For more great pregnancy
articles, visit our Pregnancy articles archive.
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