Effects of Smoking during Pregnancy

We are all aware that the habit of smoking should be kicked when a woman becomes pregnant. The effects of smoking during pregnancy have been widely published and publicized worldwide since the last decade. Unfortunately there are still millions of women all over the world who still continue to smoke during pregnancy and have no intentions to stop.

This article hopes to reach the women who don't realise the potential dangers smoking can have on their unborn child. While it may be hard for some of the smokers amongst you to face the reality of the situation you must listen to the facts and consider quitting for the health of your child.

The main effects of smoking during pregnancy are:

• Increased chance of stillbirth
• Increased change of premature delivery
• Reducing the amount of oxygen your unborn baby can intake
• Polluting your blood supply and the source of nutrients your baby needs with thousands of chemicals including the deadly carbon monoxide
• Increased chance of low birth weight
• Increased chance of learning disorders
• Reduced capacity for your baby to breath properly

We aren't talking about a heavy habit either – even light smokers who may think it's ok are simply wrong. It's not ok to smoke during pregnancy. This may provoke a strong response but I am here to present the facts to mothers to be.

While I understand smoking is a hard habit to beat mothers to be simply need to get as much help as they need to quit before even making the decision to have a child. Smoking not only effects the mother and with the information available on the effects of smoking during pregnancy ignorance cannot be used an as excuse.