Risk factors involved in smoking during pregnancy
Smoking during pregnancy can harm the health of the mother and her unborn baby. Researchers observed a 'dose-response effect', meaning that the risk of psychotic symptoms was highest in children whose mothers smoked the most heavily during pregnancy.
Currently, at least 10 percent of women in the United States smoke during pregnancy. Statistics reveal that industrialized countries, 18 percent of women smoke. This proportion is somewhat smaller in developing countries where only 8 percent of women smoke. According to the U.S. Public Health Service, if all pregnant women in this country stopped smoking, there would be an estimated:
- 11 percent reduction in stillbirths
- 5 percent reduction in newborn deaths
Cigarette smoke contains more than 2,500 chemicals. Doctors believe that both nicotine and carbon monoxide causes adverse pregnancy outcomes.
How smoking can harm the newborn-
Smoking during pregnancy nearly doubles a woman's risk of having a low-weight baby. In 2007, 21 percent of babies born to smokers in the United States were of low- birthweight (less than 5½ pounds), compared to 17.2 percent of babies of nonsmokers. Smoking has long been known to slow fetal growth.
Smoking also increases the risk of premature babies. Premature and low-birthweight babies face an increased risk of serious health problems during the newborn period, chronic lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and even death.
The more a pregnant woman smokes the greater her risk of having a low-birthweight baby. However, if a woman stops smoking even by the end of her second trimester of pregnancy, she is no more likely to have a low birthweight baby than a woman who never smoked. Doctors also believe that the risk of heart defects appears to increase with the number of cigarettes a woman smokes.
How smoking during pregnancy can cause complications-
Smoking is associated with a number of pregnancy complications. Smoking doubles a woman's risk of developing placental problems. These consists of-
- Placenta previa (a low-lying placenta that covers part or all of the opening of the uterus)
- Placental abruption (in which the placenta peels away, partially or almost completely, from the uterine wall just before the delivery)
Both can result in heavy bleeding during delivery that can endanger both mother and the baby. Studies suggest that smoking at a critical stage of embryonic palate development increases the risk of cleft lip/palate.
Smoking affect fertility-
Cigarette smoking can cause reproductive problems before a woman even becomes pregnant. Studies show that women who smoke may have more trouble conceiving than women who are nonsmokers.
Also, babies exposed to cigarette smoke in the womb are more likely to be born with shorter length and smaller head circumference. Being born too small is one of the major cause of infant illness and newborn death.
No one will dispute the fact that smoking is an addiction. However, women need support and assistance to quit smoking, which is why there are special programs available to pregnant women. Talk to your doctor about using medical help.