How Smoking During Pregnancy Will Damage Your Child for Life
Many things can be dangerous to your unborn child if you smoke during pregnancy. There are many reasons why you should quit smoking now but most importantly is that it is better for your baby's health.
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. Because pregnancy is a stressful time you have to be extra committed to what you are doing. There are many hidden dangers to smoking while you are pregnant.
Talk to your prenatal doctor or your family doctor to get help quitting if you smoke and are pregnant. There are several methods and products available to help you quit smoking. Some of these aids still contain nicotine, however. Your baby can still absorb the nicotine from your bloodstream if you use a nicotine replacement patch, for example. This is better than inhaling hundreds of carcinogenic chemicals but the nicotine is still a health threat to your child. So it really is best to discuss it with your doctor as to what is best for you. 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 is a proven fact that more than 20 percent of all babies born nationally are born with low birth weight conditions. An increased risk for preterm delivery is also attributed to smoking during pregnancy. It has been said that more than 14% of preterm labors are as a result of the mothers addiction to cigarettes. A particularly sad statistic is that around 10 percent of all infant mortalities can be linked to a mother who smoked during pregnancy. According to the American Lung Association this is a true statistic.
This is only one of the many risks associated with smoking while pregnant. A few of the other known risks include cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and retardation. Smoking while pregnant has been shown to contribute to the enormous amount of sudden death cases in infants.
The common problems associated with smoking during pregnancy can be eliminated if you quit. It really is pretty cut and dry, black and white. Researching all the possible risks to your baby will provide further motivation to quit if you need it. The most serious risks include still births and a higher risk of SIDS. Everyone can agree that smoking during pregnancy is extremely harmful and potentially debilitating on the baby and child.
About the Author
The author is a nutritionist. Please look at her websites by visiting chicken recipes and chicken breast recipes