There are so many dangers to your unborn child if you are smoking during pregnancy. There are many reasons why you should quit smoking now but most importantly is that it is better for your baby’s health.
Plus there are obviously so many positive benefits for you, too. Not only will you feel so much better, but you will have a lot more energy which you will need. Because pregnancy is a stressful time you have to be extra committed to what you are doing. Smoking during pregnancy is dangerous and we will list them here. As a responsible mother-to-be, you really should immediately get help and advice from medical professionsal about utilizing stop smoking aids that may help you quit smoking as quickly as possible.
Smoking during pregnancy can lead to your child’s premature death. SIDS is more common in children exposed to the dangers of second hand smoke. SIDS is defined as the sudden death of a child who is less than a year old with no apparent cause of death. As a pregnant mother, this is obviously a very serious risk to take with your child. Education and awareness could go a long way to helping the situation and if more women were made aware of the risks, they might be more willing to quit. The lung functions of a child whose mother smoked while pregnant can be seriously compromised. Asthma and pneumonia are more common for children of smoking mothers. Bronchitis and other chronic respiratory symptoms are also more common. Your child’s immune system is also involved with these problems. This increases their susceptibility to infections.
Many people are now aware of the increasing incidence and diagnosis of ADHD, or Attention Deficit – Hyperactivity Disorder, in children. Every year, millions are diagnosed with this condition and the numbers keep increasing. While there are many causes for ADHD, researchers know that a pregnant woman who smokes at least half a pack a day increases the tendency of hyperactivity in your child. This also means an increased risk of your child being diagnosed with ADHD.
There is tremendous cause for concern when a mother smokes during pregnancy.
The highly negative effects of smoking during pregnancy are not fully understood at this time. This article has focused mainly on the effects on the unborn baby but these same effects don’t go away after birth. The consequences associated with smoking while pregnant can affect the child well into adulthood. Many of the dire consequences of smoking while pregnant have lifelong effects. That is why awareness and support to quit smoking is so incredibly important for both mother and baby. Be a responsible parent-to-be, read and learn about how to quit smoking before you give birth to your newborn. This is the best present you ever give to your unborn child as well as to your personal health and wellbeing.