Tell me all the effects you know about of tobacco and pregnancy.

----Trav--------------

Low birth weight (which leads to development issues)
Increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Asthma

All I can think off of the top of my head...

Here are some links:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/fact/smokpreg.htm

http://www.camh.net/press_releases/smoking_women_factsheet.html

http://www2.lungusa.org/tobacco/smosmpreg.html

http://www.chem-tox.com/pregnancy/smoking.htm

Good luck,
Mskedi

Loss of tooth enamel... apparently they've found a link between excessive smoking and los of enamel, but I can't give you an article, sorry!

Asthma is a biggie, baby being born with nicotine addiction etc...

asthma is HUGE. My dad smoked while my Mom was pregnant with my brother, and even though my Mom didn't smoke herself at that point, the second hand smoke caused my brother to be born with very serious asthma. I still remember the trips to the hospital when we were kids with my brother...especially during the summer. My Dad stopped smoking as soon as he was born, but the damage had already been done by then. My brother's childhood asthma was so severe that there were several times when he really could have died from it if he hadn't been rushed to the hospital for medication...and oxygen treatment. We were really close growing up and still are, so this is one of the most frightening memories I have of childhood.

You know, any time I see someone smoking now (like yesterday a woman was smoking in a car next to me on the way to work)...I just have to ask myself..."why do people STILL smoke?" I mean I'm not one of those anti-smoking weirdo's and I don't harrass anyone. But it's such an unkind thing to do to one's body. I remember Oprah saying on one of her shows last year, "If you're a woman in this country and you still smoke, God help you."--the health risks for women (even non-pregnant women) are SOOO high.

B

some times nothing at all happens- In the 70's (when I was born) lots of moms smoked all the way through pregnancy, to big heavy babies too! - I'm not a doctor- Don't listen to me if your pregnant-

OK, now, naturally I would advise against smoking during pregnancy. I mean, it's just common sense now, in light of the medical information we have.

But having said that... my mom smoked all the way through her pregnancy with me. I wasn't born underweight, I don't have asthma, etc.

Of course... I was born with six toes on my left foot... :D

Sure, there are people that were born fine. There are also people who smoked all their lives, drank a 6 pack a day and lived to 100.

However, the chances of a fetus developing serious problems is GREATLY increased when you smoke.

I had a friend who worked at a bar. She refused to serve them alcohol and would ask them to leave if they lit up. A couple women complained. What did she do? She put a sign on the front door.

"We do not serve pregnant women. Your baby's life is more important to us then your money."

What happened to her? She was promoted to manager ROFL

Every aspect of fetal and child development is affected. Most noticeably is the impaired pulmonary functioning that lasts a lifetime.

I think smoking while pregnant is a cruel and selfish act. It disgusts me to see a pregnant woman smoking...they definitely put themselves ahead of the well being of their baby. It speaks volumes for the level of care the baby may get after it's born.

I always thought my mum smoked through pregnancy which kinda disproved the idea too... but found out recently that she quit for both pregnancies.

One more thing to remember is, if you are smoking during pregnancy, your going to most likely be smoking after the birth. Which means your child will constantly be inhaling hundreds of toxins, getting sick more often, etc.

As a child my dad smoked and around 1.5-2 yrs old, I ate some of his cigarettes. If my mother hadn't noticed right away and induced vomiting, I would have been dead rather quickly. He quit cold turkey after that.

Are you pregnant MOP? :D
Personally, I feel that if a woman smokes during pregnancy, she is a horribly selfish person. The future of that child's health starts in the womb. What right does she have to take those risks?

www.helppregnantsmokersquit.org

Originally posted by Erin_Sword2Sky
Are you pregnant MOP? :D

That's what I'd like to know, too. ;)

Especially since it's such a time-crucial matter. Has MOP discovered what Tripp did on Enterprise: that other intelligent species can impregnate human males?

sooooooooo MOP are you?:D

;)

One of the many problems it can cause is prematurity - which has the potential to cause many other problems, including the death of the baby. :(

I think smoking while pregnant is a cruel and selfish act. It disgusts me to see a pregnant woman smoking...they definitely put themselves ahead of the well being of their baby. It speaks volumes for the level of care the baby may get after it's born.

ITA! It is so incredibly selfish. I happen to be around this issue a lot in my life right now. My older sister is pregnant (she is due next month) & is still smoking. I thought she had more common sense than that. She's been smoking for almost 15 yrs now. Once this baby is born, she is going to regret her selfish decision.
My daughters biological father's girlfriend just gave birth to a baby a few weeks ago & she smoked throughout her whole pregnancy. She is 16 or 17. It makes me sad to know that all these babies are going to be born with nicotine addiction.
I don't buy the BS that it doesn't effect the baby, EVERYTHING a woman puts in her body during pregnancy effects her unborn child.
It's just like using formula. The formula fed child may turn out very smart and healthy, but if she were breastfed she would be even smarter and healthier!

My advice is Do NOT take a chance with your babies life and health for a stupid pointless addiction. It takes willpower! For me, when I found out I was pregnant, the first thing I did was quit cigarettes. Now my DD is 2 & I love her so much & I am so thankful that I put enough importance on her life to quit a dirty habit.