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Smoking and Pregnancy - How to Quit Smoking While Pregnant

Few dispute the negative pregnancy smoking facts that clearly show the dangers of smoking during pregnancy. Although the risks are clear, there are still those who continue to light up and don’t take these risks seriously. 

Many expectant mothers who smoke may logically know the risks, but don’t believe that these risks apply to them.  The negative impact of smoking on the growing fetus are quite clear and here are some well known facts:

  • Smoking can actually hinder a woman’s ability to become pregnant in the first place.
  • Many of the chemicals ingested through smoking can be passed to the growing fetus through the placenta
  • If the mother smokes during pregnancy, she can slow her baby’s growth because oxygen is being replaced by carbon monoxide during critical growth periods when central nervous system and brain development are occurring.
  • Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriages and spontaneous abortions as well as stillborns and premature labor.
  • Babies born to smoking moms have an increased risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
  • There is a greater risk of birth defects or learning deficits in babies born to smoking mothers.
  • Nursing mothers can also pass nicotine to their babies through breast milk.
  • Baby’s born to smoking mothers are more likely to suffer from upper respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, asthma and increased number of colds.

After reviewing this list of pregnancy smoking facts, it becomes obvious why pregnant women should quit smoking as soon as possible.  These risks affect the baby during pregnancy and immediately after being born.  For those women who continue to smoke, the risk goes up as the pregnancy progresses. Ideally, women should quit before ever becoming pregnant, but in the case of unexpected pregnancies having your last cigarette the day you find out your pregnant is the best way to minimize the affects of cigarettes to your unborn child. 

If you’re pregnant and still struggling to quit, joining a support group or seeking the help of a professional are warranted.  Because medications could pose additional risk to your baby, it’s best to quit without medicinal intervention. However, if you find that you are still having difficulty, speak with your doctor and find out what options you have available to you. Given the negative impact that these pregnancy smoking facts show, it’s imperative that you stop smoking immediately and do whatever is necessary to begin a healthy lifestyle to insure the health of your unborn baby.

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