Just the Facts; Smoking Is Not OK During Pregnancy
Mar 16 '00
Did you know that The Environmental Protection Agency has classified cigarette smoke as a Class A carcinogen? Did you know that carcinogen is a substance that is cancer causing? What does this mean? Well, what I get from that is that the smoke from a cigarette is the same danger to me as asbestos. We don't want our children around asbestos, so why would we want our children (born and unborn) around cigarette smoke?
From http://www.lungusa.org/tobacco/pregnancy_factsheet99.html
"Smoking during pregnancy is estimated to account for 20 to 30 percent of low-birth weight babies, up to 14 percent of preterm deliveries, and some 10 percent of all infant deaths. Maternal smoking during and after pregnancy has been linked to asthma among infants and young children."
Smoking is bad for your health and the health of those around you. When you are pregnant it is worse.
A pregnant woman smoking is intentionally inflicting harm on her unborn child. That sounds harsh to say doesn't it? Yes. You may not want to hear that or read it but it's the truth. I've spent the last week or so reading up on this subject and I have yet to find any studies, articles, or any sort of proof at all that it's OK to smoke when pregnant or smoke around children. I have found mountains of proof stating just the opposite.
From http://www.familyinternet.com/fisites/pregcom/01020700.htm
"Nicotine impairs the absorption of calcium, vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals required by a developing fetus. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy greatly increases the risk of preterm labor and premature birth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) after birth."
I'd like to share with you some of my findings. If you don't agree with me and what I'm about to share with you please scroll down to the bottom of my editorial and you will find the links to back up what I'm saying. Please take the time to read them and make an informed decision about the health of your children. If you have studies or proof that show otherwise, feel free to post them in the comments section and I'll check them out.
Studies show that smoking during pregnancy can result in the following:
*greater chance of miscarriage
*increased risk of PROM (Premature rupture of the membranes; usually leads to premature births)
*increased risk of delivering prematurely
*low birthrate babies
*greater chance of baby dying of SIDS
*can cause placenta previa
*can cause placental abruption
*it cuts down (not can but does) baby's oxygen supply and contains harmful substances such as tars, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and lead
*increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy
*increases the risk of stillbirths
When you smoke you are breathing in nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and lead. So is your baby. These chemicals and substances get into the placenta and rob it (and your baby) of needed food and oxygen.
From http://www.channel6000.com/health/health-980824-200719.html
"After analyzing urine samples from babies of both smoking and nonsmoking moms, scientists found byproducts of one of the strongest known cancer causing substances in babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy."
From http://www.familyinternet.com/fisites/pregcom/01020700.htm
"Nicotine impairs the absorption of calcium, vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals required by a developing fetus."
From http://pregnancy.about.com/health/pregnancy/library/weekly/aa111998.htm
"What happens is as the woman smokes the baby and the placenta are deprived of oxygen and nutrients. The placenta then spreads further throughout the uterus, becoming thinner (increasing the risks of a placenta previa and placental abruption), trying to seek out more surface area of the uterus from which to draw oxygen and nutrient. "
Cutting back helps some; the only way to do what's right for baby is to quit smoking all together.
Smoking during pregnancy not only is harmful to baby in the womb, but is harmful to baby once born as well. Here are some of the ill effects on an infant of a smoking mother:
*causes baby to have more colds and other lung problems
*is more likely to have problems in school; learning at a slower rate
*is more likely to become a smoker when they are older
*can lead to more coughs
*can lead to more ear infections
*increase in cases of flu
*more cases of pneumonia, bronchitis
*respiratory illnesses
*asthma
*decreases fertility in women
*more genetic defects
*get sick more often and stay sick longer
*more likely to have heart disease, breathing problems or lung cancer when they get older
From http://www.lungusa.org/press/tobacco/prenatexpo.html
"The researchers note that there are many possible ways that smoking during pregnancy may result in impaired lung function in babies. Smoking may alter the structure of the lungs and airways, as well as interfere with the control of breathing and the developing immune system. Prenatal exposure to nicotine can induce changes in the nervous system that result in impaired control of breathing, and nicotine may constrict the blood vessels, resulting in reduced flow of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus through the placenta. "
This is scary stuff to me! Pregnancy and children; wonderful stuff to me!
When pregnant we are so careful to eat the right foods, not drink, get moderate exercise if permitted by the doctor, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water; so why would you then smoke and send this horrible stuff directly to your baby?
Smoking is an addiction. Smoking is expensive. Smoking is smelly. Smoking is going out of fashion. You can't smoke in many public places. You can't smoke in many private places. Smoking is bad for your health. Smoking makes your teeth a funny color. Smoking gives you bad breath. What is smoking good for?
A little baby is a beautiful thing. A baby does not ask to be born. A baby deserves the very best beginning in life we can possibly give them. A baby should be surrounded by love and the comforting embrace of her mother's arms, and not a cloud of smoke.
Smoking is an addiction and is going to be very hard to quit. If you are pregnant, please talk to your doctor about quitting. Get help and get support in quitting. Find as many people as you can to help you. Talk to anyone you can find who has quit and see what did it for them. Keep on trying different things/tips/ideas until you find what works for you.
Smoking is an addiction and it will be very hard to quit, but isn't your baby's health much more important than that nicotine craving? I promise you that healthy baby will be all the reward you need. And you know what else? Your baby wants you around for a good long while! Not to mention that babies require a lot of stamina! <grin>.
Contact your local American Lung Association (ALA) at 1-800-LUNG-USA(1-800-586-4872). ALA knows how to help pregnant smokers stop smoking for good.
If you are not pregnant and reading this review, but are around a pregnant woman please be courteous and go elsewhere to smoke. Thank you.
Here are some links for you to do your own research. A search engine I'm particularly fond of is www.dogsearch.com. It is my wish that pregnant women do the research and stop living in denial. Talk to your doctor or nurse midwife. Make the right decision for your baby.
Good luck to you! :)
http://www.lungusa.org/tobacco/smosmpreg.html
http://www.lungusa.org/press/tobacco/prenatexpo.html
http://www.lungusa.org/tobacco/pregnancy_factsheet99.html
http://www.channel6000.com/health/health-980824-200719.html
http://www.familyinternet.com/fisites/pregcom/01020700.htm
http://oac3.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/pub_affairs/news/mullen.html
http://pregnancy.about.com/health/pregnancy/library/weekly/aa111998.htm
http://www.ghc.org/health_info/self/women/pregnanc/smoke_pr.html
http://www.ghc.org/health_info/self/women/pregnanc/smoke_pr.html
http://www.ghc.org/health_info/self/women/pregnanc/smoke_pr.html
http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/yourhealth/prenatal/preconception/drug.htm
http://www.lungusa.org/tobacco/pregnancy_factsheet99.html
http://www.familyinternet.com/fisites/pregcom/01020700.htm
http://pregnancy.about.com/msubsmoking.htm
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IrishMa4
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Member: Bobbie Jean Knealing
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