Smoking During Pregnancy and How it can Damage Your Child

Many women know that smoking while pregnant puts their unborn child at risk. They may not know, however, the full extent of that risk. Woman who smoke while pregnant put their child at risk for a long list of negative consequences. Inhaling second hand smoke can even cause negative effects on your child. It's no longer just about protecting yourself but also protecting your unborn child. You can find many safe methods to quit smoking and if you're not supported at home, there are support systems in place. Keep reading to learn more about the effects smoking while pregnant can have on your unborn child.

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to your child's premature death. SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is more likely in young babies exposed to second hand smoke. SIDS is when a child under the age of one dies with no apparent cause as to why. This is an extremely serious risk to take with your child as a pregnant mother. If more women were aware of the risks of smoking while pregnant, we believe that more would work harder to quit.

A certain percentage of pregnancies each year are ectopic pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the embryo implants itself in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. There can be all kinds of serious complications from ectopic pregnancies. Women who smoke are at a greater risk for an ectopic pregnancy. Smoking while pregnant can also negatively impact the placenta. Obviously, not only are these serious risks for the fetus but also the mothers health and well-being, too.

It's natural for parents to want their child to do well in life and to excel in all areas, including academically. Smoking while pregnant can have negative effects on the baby's brain and it's development. If the mother smokes, her baby won't receive sufficient amounts of oxygen. The exact effects your child will suffer later in life are difficult to determine. But smoking during pregnancy has been linked to a wide range of learning problems in children. The consequences of smoking while pregnant are terrible there is no getting around that. The unborn fetus doesn't have a chance to make a decision to live or die when you are smoking during pregnancy you are making that decision for them. Your breast milk also leaches nicotine to your baby. It's ultra important for you to quit and we hope to have given you the motivation to do so. Ask your doctor for help.