| For so many years now we have know that | | | | non-smoking mothers. |
| smoking while pregnant is not healthy, but | | | | |
| smoking has been a part of our lives, | | | | Greater risks are imposed on babies who |
| regardless of whether we smoke or not. And | | | | relatively weigh less than the normal babies. |
| for that it has been a detrimental factor in | | | | They may acquire certain diseases like |
| everybody's lives; sad to say, that includes | | | | cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and the |
| the unborn babies. | | | | worst is death. |
| | | | |
| Surveys show that many mothers are still | | | | There are also reports on how smoking |
| smoking while pregnant. They contend that it | | | | increases the probabilities of birth defects |
| does not affect their baby at all. In most | | | | such as cleft lip and cleft palate. |
| instances, these are the mothers that do not | | | | |
| care for their unborn child, because if they | | | | Moreover, babies born with mothers who were |
| did they would know that smoking poses great | | | | smoking while pregnant have higher incidences |
| danger during pregnancy. They would know that | | | | of sudden infant death syndrome. If ever |
| it is currently one of the major causes of | | | | these infants survive, they may still incur |
| infant deaths in our society today. If your | | | | diseases like asthma, behavioral problems, or |
| smoking while pregnant, you are more likely | | | | learning disabilities. |
| to birth a child who is underweight. Low | | | | |
| birth weight babies are at greater risk for | | | | After the child is born, it doesn't get any |
| childhood and adult illnesses and even death. | | | | better for babies with mothers who were |
| Babies of smokers have less muscle mass and | | | | smoking while pregnant, they still face |
| more fat than babies of non smokers, the | | | | problems after birth within their |
| child is also more likely to develop | | | | environment. Infants eighteen months and |
| respiratory problems later in life. | | | | younger who have second hand smoke |
| | | | surrounding them in their houses are |
| Basically, cigarette smoke alone is full of | | | | responsible for up to three hundred thousand |
| chemicals, some studies even state it has | | | | cases of pneumonia and bronchitis. |
| more than 2,500 chemicals. Some chemicals | | | | |
| like tar, carbon monoxide, and nicotine were | | | | Studies have revealed that nicotine can be |
| considered as the most dangerous substance | | | | passed on to the baby through breastfeeding. |
| for the fetus. It has long been proven how | | | | There had been experiments that proved the |
| these chemicals can greatly affect the | | | | presence of nicotine in the babies system |
| development of the fetus inside the mother's | | | | through urine testing. It later showed that |
| womb. | | | | higher percentage of nicotine was found in |
| | | | babies who were breastfeeding by smoking |
| Mothers who smoke while pregnant run a risk | | | | mothers. |
| of ectopic pregnancy. This is especially | | | | |
| viable when the mother is a heavy smoker | | | | Most experts contend that the problem lies |
| during the first trimester of her pregnancy. | | | | within the mother's urge to get back to |
| | | | smoking right after they gave birth. They |
| Ectopic pregnancy refers to the state wherein | | | | contend that it is safe now because the baby |
| the embryo is embedded outside the uterus, | | | | was born already. They still insist that |
| which is contrary to what normal pregnancy | | | | they, in fact, stopped smoking during their |
| should be. Usually, it is embedded in the | | | | pregnancy. |
| fallopian tube. In this manner, the fetus has | | | | |
| to be removed because this kind of pregnancy | | | | The concluding scenario here is that when the |
| will never survive. This fetus will never | | | | mother continues to smoke during the |
| survive outside of the uterus where a fetus | | | | formative years of her child, chances are she |
| gets all the nourishment and protection that | | | | is already shaping a child that will most |
| it needs. Prolonging this condition will only | | | | likely be a smoker themselves. That is, if |
| risk the mother's life. | | | | the child can endure the dangers smoking can |
| | | | do with his or her health. |
| Smoking while pregnant will increase the | | | | |
| probability that the mother will develop | | | | So, what's the point here? The fact that the |
| complications in the placenta. Reports show | | | | mother does not care for her own health is |
| that placental problems are actually | | | | one thing. But the fact that she puts greater |
| happening in about 1% of pregnancies. The | | | | risk on her baby because of her vice is |
| most common problem is placenta previa where | | | | another thing, and that it is the most |
| the placenta is connected very low in the | | | | saddening part. |
| uterus and is almost in the cervix. | | | | |
| | | | Babies should be given the right to live a |
| Another problem is the deterioration of fetal | | | | decent, normal, and healthy life. So, for |
| growth. Smoking during pregnancy results in | | | | mother's out there, please bear in mind that |
| low infant birth weight. For so many years | | | | aside from the long range dangers associated |
| now, reports show that there had been | | | | with smoking your babies should not suffer. |
| significant difference between babies with | | | | Let's take care of them simply by not |
| smoking mothers than those who have | | | | smoking. |