Pregnancy and Smoking

If you do not care enough for your health to quit smoking, then your baby’s health should be a reason enough to take this long due step. Your smoking will not only affect the health of the baby inside your womb but also his health after he is born. Smoking poses a big threat to your pregnancy and to the health of your child. Smoking also makes it hard for a woman to conceive a baby.

How does smoking affect the baby?

The carbon monoxide, the nicotine and other poisonous substances that you inhale through a cigarette first move to your blood stream, then directly to your baby.

• Smoking by a pregnant lady lowers the level of oxygen available for herself and for the growing baby.
• It increases the heart rate of the baby.
• Increases the risk of the baby developing lungs related problems.
• Increases the probability of stillbirth or even a miscarriage.
• Increases the chance of a premature or an underweightbaby.

Related Articles

• Drinking alcohol and its effect on baby during pregnancy
• Risk factors that affect pregnancy
• Prevent your baby from smoking, drinking and drugs during pregnancy
• Quit smoking

Effects of Passive smoking on the baby

Passive or second hand smoke is a combination of the smoke that a smoker exhales and smoke from a cigarette that is burning. The smoke coming off a burning cigarette is known to contain larger number of harmful substances than smoke that is inhaled by a smoker. A continued passive smoking increases the chance of your baby developing heart diseases, lung cancer, different allergies, emphysema, asthma and also other health issues. Babies who are continually exposed to passive smoking have a reduced capacity of the lungs and at a risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

How to quit smoking Before/During pregnancy

There are a large number of programmes available that aid in smoking cessation. Some tips are given below.

• Hide your lighters, matches and ashtrays.
• Designate your house a strict non smoking place.
• Try not be around people who smoke.
• Try to stay active and keep yourself and the mind off smoke, it helps in relieving the tension.
• Look for some support from people around you.
• Keep some chewing gums or mint candies handy so that you can take them when you feel the urge to smoke.
• Try to avoid caffeinated beverages; caffeine stimulates the urge of smoking
• Try to avoid going to places like bars and pubs, where you may find people smoking.
• Think about the baby in your womb and the harmful effects that your smoking may have on the baby.

The sooner a mother to be quits smoking, the healthier it will be for her and for the child. The best would be to quit it prior to getting pregnant. Some women think that moving to mild or light cigarettes would be safe, but it is wrong notion. It is the best to quit smoking in order to have a perfectly healthy baby. 

Healthy mothers give birth to healthy babies; healthy babies become happy babies which leads the way to happy moms!Pregnancy and smoking.

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Hi! I am Srh and the author of Fineremedy.com Which is your Health Resource for Healthier Life.Find Health Tips,Advice, Information for Today Healthy Living..