One of the most important things an expecting mother can do for her unborn child is to quit smoking. Research has shown that smoking during pregnancy can have significant negative effects on the developing fetus. Cigarette tobacco contains approximately 2,500 chemicals that could harm an unborn baby, with nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide being the most harmful.
Harmful effects on the developing fetus
Smoking has been linked to various pregnancy complications. Women who smoke have a greater chance of having an ectopic pregnancy, whereby the embryo becomes implanted in the fallopian tube or any other abnormal place outside the uterus. In most cases, this type of pregnancy does not come to full term. A surgical procedure or drug treatment is usually recommended in order to protect the woman's life.
When a woman smokes during her pregnancy, there is a greater chance of complications with the placenta. The mother can either experience placenta previa, in which case the placenta becomes attached too low in the uterus and blocks a part of or the entire cervix, or a placental abruption, whereby the placenta detaches itself from the uterine wall. When either one of these problems occurs, the resulting delivery is often life-threatening for both mother and child.
- Many pregnant women who smoke experience heavy vaginal bleeding, a miscarriage, and sometimes stillbirth.
- Smoking during pregnancy doubles the risk of delivering a baby with a low birth weight or having a pre-term baby; it could also be born with certain birth defects, such as a cleft lip or cleft palate.
- It has been proven that many babies exposed to smoking before birth will experience learning and behavioural problems, such as hyperactivity and shortened attention span, and may have respiratory issues, such as asthma.
Harmful effects on the child after birth
The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is increased in babies who are born to smoking mothers. If your child is exposed to cigarette smoke after birth, he or she may experience frequent ear infections, bouts of tonsillitis, and respiratory problems.
Smoking during pregnancy affects a mother's breast milk. Not only can it reduce a mother's supply, but the harmful chemicals can also be passed to the nursing infant, who can develop diarrhea, nausea, cramping, and vomiting from the effects. Being constantly exposed to cigarette smoke increases a child's chances of becoming asthmatic. For children who are already afflicted with asthma, continuous exposure to smoke often worsens their condition.
How to Quit Safely
Mothers-to-be want a healthy baby. Smoking during pregnancy is dangerous and quitting should be top priority. There are many options available to the average smoker that can help them kick the habit for good. However, a pregnant woman is not considered an ‘average person', and some medications or methods are not recommended.
Many doctors still prescribe the anti-smoking patch, gum, or spray to a pregnant woman, even though these products release nicotine into the body. As nicotine is only one of the many toxic chemicals found in cigarettes, this method is thought to be safer than smoking. Gums and sprays are safer than the patch as the dose of nicotine they provide is smaller than that delivered by the patch. It is not yet known how nicotine can influence a growing fetus, or how it contributes to premature birth, low birth weight and/or other problems. If you are having trouble quitting smoking during pregnancy, speak to your doctor before trying a nicotine replacement method.
Medications vs Natural Approach
There are medications such as bupropion (Zyban) on the market that are said to help smokers quit. The drug has been deemed safe and effective for quitting smoking, but its effects on pregnant women have not been conclusive. However, researchers do know that bupropion can be passed on to a baby through breast milk, thus it is not recommended for nursing mothers.
Aside from the use of patches and drugs, the practice of hypnosis and acupuncture are popular. Both are safe and drug-free, and have no negative effects on the fetus. Practitioners of these approaches claim that the sessions can calm cravings, but overall success depends on the level of personal motivation, the strength of the support system, and the number of cigarettes smoked.
Cold Turkey Method
One last method to stop smoking during pregnancy is to quit cold turkey. There is no sustained evidence that the stress incurred by quitting smoking harms the fetus. This method is considered one of the safest. Doctors claim that as long as the mother-to-be is smoke-free by the time she is 14-weeks along, then the baby will most likely be unharmed.
Smoking during pregnancy is a serious matter and quitting can be very difficult. The best approach is to take one day at a time, and stay focussed on the worthy goal. Keep reminding yourself that you are doing this not only for yourself, but for the health and well-being of your baby. Regardless of which method you choose in order to quit, it is important to talk to your doctor, who will not only encourage you but may also provide you with counselling resources.
Author info: Angela Williams provides content for www.stopsmokinghelp.com. A former smoker herself, she has remained nicotine free for 10 years.
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