Effects of smoking on pregnant women

Women who smoke during pregnancy exposes herself and her unborn child to immense health risks as cigarette smoke contains harmful components like nicotine, carbon monoxide and cyanide. These substances are absorbed by the placenta and affect the baby and the mother would not even realize it.  There is restriction on the growth of the fetal and a woman who smokes during pregnancy would normally give birth to a child whose weight will be low and would cause ill effect on her health because of it.  The low birth weight is due to the narrowing of oxygen and nutrients transporting blood vessels.

There are approximately 20 per cent of pregnant women who smoke and many of them smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day. Many pregnant women manage to quit smoking within the first trimester of pregnancy and if you stop smoking your chances of having a normal sized baby at birth increases. However, it does not mean that smoking is safe but quitting is always helpful both to the mother and child.  Studies have also found that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of genetic abnormalities like cleft lip or palate, bowel, eyes, ears or spinal cord malformations and respiratory problems.  It is important for a pregnant woman to keep in mind the ill effects of smoking for herself and her unborn child like placenta abnormalities, increased risk of respiratory problem development etc. Smoking also increases hypertension and increased heart rate which can cause complications to the mother and the unborn child. Hence it is of great significance for pregnant women to quit smoking.  Quit smoking, keep your baby in a smoke free environment and live a healthy life - www.niconot.com.