Smoking and Pregnancy
- Janet M. Torpy, MD, Writer;
- Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator;
- Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
- KEYWORDS:
- PREGNANCY
- SMOKING
- WOMEN'S HEALTH
Smoking cigarettes causes many health problems, including cancers, heart disease, and lung disease. When a pregnant woman smokes, she puts herself and her baby at risk. Because the fetus, a developing infant in the mother's uterus (womb), is in contact with the mother's bloodstream, any chemicals the mother breathes or ingests can affect the fetus. This includes tobacco smoke coming from the mother's smoking or inhaling smoke in the environment (also known as second-hand smoke). The March 9, 2005, issue of JAMA includes an article about the harm that smoking during pregnancy can cause.
PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKING
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Low birth weight
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Intrauterine (inside the uterus) growth delay
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Preterm labor
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Premature rupture of membranes (water bag), which may lead to preterm delivery or an infection affecting the baby
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Increased rates of stillbirths, miscarriages, and ectopic (outside the uterus) pregnancy
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Complications during delivery
PREVENTING BIRTH DEFECTS
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Do not smoke. If you do smoke, quit before planning a pregnancy. …
