Smoking During Pregnancy - How Smoking Affects You And Your Child

February 9, 2008 | Filed Under Health and Fitness 

Smoking during pregnancy remains a major public health problem. Even though the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy has declined steadily in recent years, there are still substantial numbers of pregnant women who continue to smoke, between 13-22 percent, according to numbers reported by the Surgeon General. About one-third of women who stop smoking during pregnancy are still non-smokers one year after the delivery.

Smoking during pregnancy affects you and your baby’s health before, during, and after your baby is born. The nicotine, carbon monoxide, and numerous other poisons you inhale from a cigarette are carried through your bloodstream and go directly to your baby. Studies have shown that maternal smoking during pregnancy has long-term effects on children’s behavior and health, including adolescent drug abuse and negative behavior and conduct such as impulsiveness, risk-taking, and rebelliousness. Prenatal exposure to smoke may also predispose children to early smoking experimentation. Smoking while you are pregnant will:

Lower the amount of oxygen available to you and your growing baby
Increase your baby’s heart rate
Increase the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth
Increase the risk that your baby is born prematurely and/or born with low birth weight
Increase your baby’s risk of developing respiratory problems

The more cigarettes you smoke per day, the greater your baby’s chances of developing these and other health problems. There is no safe level of smoking for your baby’s health. If you continue to smoke after your baby is born, you increase his or her chance of developing certain illnesses and problems, such as:

Frequent colds
Bronchitis and pneumonia
Asthma
Chronic coughs
Ear infections
High blood pressure
Learning and behavior problems later in childhood

Do you and your baby a big favor. Quit smoking today.

There are lot of quit-smoking methods that works well. Do yourself a favor, make this day, the day you became an ex-smoker. Guaranteed Methods.

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