Smoking While Pregnant Is Dangerous For Your Baby.
Sunday, August 21st, 2011There are so many dangers to your unborn child if you are smoking during pregnancy. If there was ever a right time to quit smoking, it is when you find out you are pregnant. Whatever distress it causes you to quit, your baby’s health is worth it. Plus there are obviously so many positive benefits for you, too. Not only will you feel so much better, but you will have a lot more energy which you will need. Of course pregnancy is a stressful time, but you must be committed and just do it. Here are just a few of the many hidden dangers for your child when you’re smoking during pregnancy.
Along with carbon monoxide and nicotine, when you smoke while pregnant you will be passing along the tar found in cigarettes, too. Yes, even the tar will affect the baby you are carrying. There is a range of lung complications that a baby can develop due to the mother smoking while pregnant. In short, the second hand smoke, inside the womb, will damage the baby’s lungs. There are many possibilities for complications that can result from the lung damage. You see, the chemicals in the baby’s blood, from the cigarettes, helps to displace the oxygen plus it can bind the oxygen in other reactions. In addition to being necessary for life, the oxygen helps your baby to develop properly.
One very common problem caused by a mother smoking during pregnancy is low birth weight in their newborn baby. Then, there are additional complications that can arise from low birth weight. It has been estimated that low birth newborns make-up about twenty to thirty percent of all low birth weight babies. A increased risk for preterm delivery is also attributed to smoking during pregnancy. There are approximately fourteen percent preterm deliveries caused by smoking, once again. An even worse statistic is the estimation that about ten percent of all infant deaths, including SIDS, is due to the mother smoking while pregnant. That statistic is according to the American Lung Association.
A significant number of low birth weight babies are blamed on the mothers addiction to nicotine during pregnancy there are many additional risks too. Low birth weight plus premature birth carry potential for associated high risks. Just some of the additional risks include mental retardation, learning disabilities, and cerebral palsy. Of course the most serious possibility, and one that is recognized, is infant death.
You can eliminate the common problems associated with smoking during pregnancy if you take action to quit smoking. It really is pretty cut and dry, black and white. If you need additional motivation then you should do more reading and learn more about all that can possibly happen to your baby. The list goes all the way to infant death, still births, and a higher incidence of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome. Everyone can agree that smoking during pregnancy is extremely harmful and potentially debilitating on the baby and child.
Be a responsible parent-to-be, learn about how to quit smoking before you give birth to your child. This will be the best gift you ever give to your unborn child and also to your personal health and wellbeing.
Are you having a difficult time struggling to quit smoking cigarettes? Act now and find out about how to stop smoking effectively. Take a look at the numerous approaches you could possibly make use of for smoking cessation at howtoquitsmokingx.com.