Smoking During Pregnancy

By Alice Noman

Smoking is also known to reduce the size of the baby and therefore its chances of survival. The oxygen supply to the baby is reduced by smoking as it causes constriction of the vessels in the placenta which cause intra-uterine growth retardation of the fetus.

Smoking has also been associated with:

. intra-uterine death

. premature delivery

. rupture of membranes

. children gets ill more frequently

. have large or small organs than other babies born of non smokers

. complications on delivery

. ectopic (outside the uterus) pregnancy

. sudden death syndrome

There is double risk of stillbirths, premature deliveries, spontaneous abortions, neonatal death, pre and post delivery haemorrage and congenital abnormality.

Finally, the further into pregnancy a woman smokes, the greater her risk of complications.

Many women find they need help to give up or cut down. They can talk with their midwife or family doctor. In many areas there are support schemes for people trying to give up smoking. Make your decision firm and if still have the urge than just think about the baby, have strong will power. Do keep a gum or some kind of candy with yourself and when you urge for a puff put it in your mouth, it will help.