How does cigarette smoke affect a pregnant woman? Most medical professionals opine that smoking affects the health of the pregnant woman and her baby. Therefore, they advise pregnant women not to smoke.
Effects of Smoking on Pregnant Women
Women who smoke during pregnancy experience several ill effects. A World Health Organization report reveals that about 20% of women in industrialized nations smoke regularly. And, most of these women continue to smoke during pregnancy. This can have devastating effects on the baby.
Stillborn Babies
About 11% of stillborn births are due to smoking mothers. Ideally, women should quit smoking before conceiving. But, even if women stop smoking before the second trimester of pregnancy, it greatly reduces the chances of a stillborn birth.
Effect on Fertility
Women smokers experience delayed conception and their reproductive health is also affected. Moreover, the quality of smoking women’s eggs is worse than that of non-smokers.
Placental Abruption
Smoking may increase the chances of placental abruption. This happens when the placenta moves apart from the uterus, causing blood loss and fetal distress. This condition can be fatal for about 25% of newborns. About 50% of babies who are conceived after this condition experience difficulties in the long term.
Preterm Delivery
This means births occurring before the 37th week of a woman’s pregnancy period. Prematurely born babies have greater risk of respiratory illnesses, long term handicaps and even mortality. Studies link smoking to higher risk of preterm delivery.
The Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Babies
Smoking mothers can affect their babies’ health even after birth. We list a few of the ill-effects on babies:
Nicotine withdrawal
Babies born to smoking mothers experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms. They appear withdrawn, rigid and jittery. These signs are worse in babies, whose mothers smoked heavily during pregnancy.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
The risk of SIDS doubles in the case of pregnant women who smoke. If they continue smoking after childbirth, the risk increases for the newborn. In fact, the risk of SIDS rises if the baby is exposed to tobacco smoke in any form.
