Its a well-documented fact that smoking during pregnancy can affect you and your child, especially your child. In fact, when it comes to your unborn child, go by what your mother always said, "Don’t just hear, listen!"

When it comes to pregnancy one has to follow every word of caution. To give you some facts, smoking increases the levels of carbon monoxide and nicotine in the mother’s bloodstream during pregnancy. This limits the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby. Nicotine blocks oxygen supply by narrowing blood vessels throughout your body, including the ones in the umbilical cord. So the baby gets very little oxygen to breathe. Naturally, the baby’s growth is at risk.

Other dangers include birth of a premature and underweight baby. This is not all. Due to poor supply of nutrients and oxygen, the chances of miscarriage and foetal brain damage are also high.

Also, during growing up stages, the child could face problems such as learning disability, chronic health issues such as asthma, behavioral problems, and relatively low IQs. A latest research also pointed out that children of smoking mothers are at a risk of developing cancer in their childhood.

Now, these points are just an outline of what could happen when the baby and the smoke come in close proximity. There are many other issues, and some are more dangerous. But, you can stop all this by, giving up smoking and save your unborn child.

Yes, it may not be an easy task. But, when the craving for just one cigarette arises, think about the baby. You could also:

• Ask your family and friends to help you quit


• Consult your doctor and get tips on how to quit effectively


• Try meditation and relaxation


• Keep reminding yourself that it’s all for your baby


• Don’t give up too soon. Once again, go by the old adage, Keep trying until you succeed!

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Pregnancy and Smoking

Risks remain for pregnant quitters

Women smoking in India has become more of a trend, with an alarming rise of about 18% in the number of women smokers.

The reasons may differ as to why women take up smoking, but the effects are the same or even worse as compared to men.

We know that smoking can lead to lung cancer and heart diseases. But being a woman we need to be aware of the numerous health risks of smoking tobacco that can be unique only to us.

Effects of Smoking in Women

• There is increased risk of various cancers like lung, mouth, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), esophagus, kidney, pancreas, cervical, and bladder. One study found 80% greater risk of developing cervical cancer in smokers.



• Smoking causes more breathing difficulties in women than in men. In India, betel chewing is a common practice among rural women, which leads to respiratory problems.



• Female smokers are more susceptible to osteoporosis, when bones become brittle and are prone to fracture. The condition is terrible because it reduces the bone density and its very painful.



• If a woman has started to smoke at an early age then she develops a risk of early menopause. Smokers can notice the symptoms of menopause 2-3 years before nonsmokers.



• Menstrual problems such as abnormal bleeding, amenorrhea (absence of periods), and vaginal discharges or infections are common complaints among women who smoke.



• If having a baby is part of your future plan then you should think of quitting now. The toxins in the cigarette smoke can kill the eggs while they are still in your ovaries. Smoking during pregnancy is a big no, you will be just risking the life of your infant, and it can lead to complications - delivering a pre-mature baby, impairing the child's long-term growth and intellectual development to name a few.



• Last but not the least, smoking affects your appearance. Your skin will age prematurely, because the oxygen gets displaced by carbon monoxide in your body. This is basically starving your cells of the oxygen it needs. Some studies suggest that it also increases the rick of developing the most common forms of skin cancer.