What Are the Effects of Smoking on Pregnancy
The only way to smoke, especially for pregnant women, is to kick the habit. Smoking has a ton of adverse effects and most of them are harsher on those who are pregnant. The carcinogens contained by cigarettes can harm both the mother and the baby in a number of ways. They can even taint breast milk, which is supposed to be the baby’s primary source of nourishment. Pregnancy, as you can see, is a pretty delicate stage, so you should give up the vice for the sake of your child.
Effects of Smoking on the Baby
Pregnant smoking is highly discouraged, since it can affect the health and body of your baby. Tar and the other carcinogenic components of cigarettes have the following effects:
Premature Birth – During pregnancy, smoking several cigarettes daily increases the chance of the baby arriving before the 37-week gestation period. The premature infant is naturally weaker and feebler, as compared to normal babies. He or she is also smaller in size and has tinier organs, which makes the child prone to diseases.
Weak Lungs – Cigarette smoke not only harms the mother’s respiratory system; its effects also extend to the unborn baby. Babies carried by pregnant smokers usually have weak lungs, making them prone to bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. They also get sick more often than the babies of non-smokers, so much attention is required for these infants.
Increased Chance for Mortality – Babies, having undeveloped organs, are weaker than adults when it comes to resisting diseases. The infants of pregnant smokers have even weaker immune systems than regular babies. They stand a greater chance of succumbing to serious diseases.
Increased Chance of Becoming Smokers – Given nicotine’s addictive effect, babies of smoker parents are more likely to become smokers when they grow up. They have been exposed to nicotine, which may spark an unconscious addiction.
If you quit smoking during the early stages of your pregnancy, there is a good chance that your baby won’t be affected, so don’t lose hope. Just shy away from cigarettes as soon as possible!
Effects of Smoking on Mothers
Aside from the normal effects of smoking, cigarette smoke also has several pregnancy-related consequences. Here are some of them.
Damaged Placenta – Cigarettes contain toxins that enter a pregnant woman’s placenta, tainting the nourishment passed on to babies. This leads to the weakening of the baby and sometimes the mother as well. In some cases, the placenta becomes detached after a period of carcinogenic contamination, which greatly contributes to the mortality rate of babies.
Tainted Breast Milk – Ideally, breast milk is the most nutritious baby food, but the same can’t be said for a mother who smokes heavily. The toxins found in cigarette smoke are known to mix with the mother’s milk, making it unsafe for the baby.
Severe Vaginal Bleeding – During pregnancy, heavy smoking can cause uncontrolled bleeding in the vagina. The carcinogenic content of cigarettes stimulates the flow of blood further, which causes more distress for the laboring mother. As a mother, your health is essential for your child’s growth and survival, even before he or she has been born. You should take care of your body and keep it smoke-free.
How to Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking is a challenge for every smoker. Pregnant women normally have a harder time kicking the habit, since some of the regular methods are not advisable. Good thing modern medicine has more than one way to repulse the craving for nicotine.
Hypnosis – Hypnosis is an effective method in calming the pangs for cigarettes. Pay a licensed hypnotist a visit. He or she will then subject you to a powerful form of hypnotism, which will make you forget your craving for nicotine. Keep in mind, though, that the success rate of hypnotism has been in question ever since its inception in the field of medicine.
Herbal Concoctions – Drinking tea and other herbal drinks will not stop your nicotine addiction, but it can weaken its hold on your system. It is a good first step when you truly want to quit smoking.
Self Control and Menthol Candies – You can try and stop smoking using sheer will power. Every time you feel a strong urge to smoke, you can chew gum or eat a menthol candy. The idea is to release tension on the candy, in the hope of stopping the urge for nicotine in the long run. You should possess enough integrity to withstand the harsh feeling induced by going cold turkey.
Consult Your Physician – When all of the methods fail, your physician comes as your best way to remove the urge for nicotine. He or she can prescribe the right medicine or administer the appropriate treatment procedure so you can finally say goodbye to the harmful habit. Your doctor can also assign you to the proper medical officer if he or she fails to stop your craving.
Other methods, such as laser therapy, acupuncture and a newly-developed anti-smoking serum (currently in the experimental stage) are also known to help smokers quit.
Quite While You’re Ahead
The dangers of smoking are a serious threat, regardless of whether the smoker is pregnant or not. You must take care of your body so you can make the most out of this lifetime. You and your family will appreciate you quitting smoking.