Cigarette smoke contains many harmful chemicals, with nicotine and carbon monoxide being among the most hazardous to your health. If you smoke during pregnancy, these poisons get into the placenta, which is the tissue that connects you to your baby and sends oxygen and nutrients and eliminates wastes, reports the American Pregnancy Association. The nicotine patch or gum (nicotine replacement therapy) still causes an increased risk to the fetus but is apparently safer than cigarette smoke. There are smoking-cessation groups and alternative methods available to help you in quitting that you can discuss with your obstetrician. There are many harmful side effects of nicotine on a fetus that you should be aware of.
Placental Effects
Smoking cigarettes doubles a woman's risk of developing placental problems, states the March of Dimes. Placental complications can include placenta previa, in which the placenta covers some or all of the cervix, making vaginal delivery dangerous. Placenta previa can cause bleeding during pregnancy, pre-term birth, and an increased risk for a Caesarean section delivery. A placental abruption is also a side effect of nicotine exposure during pregnancy. During a placental abruption, part of the placenta pulls away from the uterine wall, causing an obstetric emergency that can result in hysterectomy, hemorrhage and fetal death.
Decreased Birth Weight
Decreased or low birth weight is a common effect of nicotine exposure to a developing fetus. Smoking nicotine-laden cigarettes during pregnancy is estimated to account for 20 to 30 percent of low-birth weight babies, up to 14 percent of pre-term deliveries and about 10 percent of all infant deaths, reports the American Pregnancy Association. Babies born at a low birth weight can have difficulty breathing and feeding after birth. Growth and development may also be hindered.
Premature Birth
Nicotine exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth (birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation). According to the March of Dimes, premature and low-birth weight babies face an increased risk of serious health problems during the newborn period, chronic lifelong disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning problems) and even death. Babies born prematurely will sometimes have to endure a longer hospital stay in the neonatal intensive care unit.
