Despite the health risks associated with cigarette smoking, at least 10 percent of women in the United States smoke during pregnancy, according to the March of Dimes Foundation. Cigarette smoke contains more than 2,500 chemicals that can permeate the placenta and affect the fetus, leading to problems before and after birth. No amount of smoking is safe during pregnancy, but the risks to the fetus increase the more a woman smokes.
Effects
The toxic chemicals from cigarette smoke reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients the fetus gets in the womb, which slows fetal growth and can result in low birth weight. If you smoke during the month before conception or in the first trimester, your baby might have an increased risk of heart defects or other birth defects, according to the March of Dimes Foundation. Smoking also increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and stillbirth, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prenatal exposure to cigarettes can lead to an increased risk of problems after birth, such as sudden infant death syndrome, asthma and learning or behavioral problems.
Significance
The U.S. Public Health Service estimates that 11 percent of stillbirths and 5 percent of newborn deaths could be prevented if all pregnant women stopped smoking, according to the March of Dimes Foundation. Low birth weight babies can face illness and health problems, and might require an extended stay in the hospital. Poor health, disability and even death can result when babies are born prematurely. Smoking also increases the risk of abnormalities in the placenta, which can lead to heavy bleeding and put you and your baby at risk during delivery, according to the March of Dimes Foundation.
Prevention/Solution
The only way to protect your baby from the harmful effects of smoking is to completely quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Your doctor can offer advice to help you through the process. If you do not plan to quit smoking, you might be able to reduce the effects on your baby by smoking fewer cigarettes.
Considerations
While you should try to quit smoking as soon as you plan to get pregnant or as soon as you find out about an unplanned pregnancy, quitting at any point during pregnancy can improve your baby's health and decrease the risk of problems. If you stop smoking by the end of the second trimester, your risk of delivering a low birth weight baby will be the same as a non-smoker's risk, according to the March of Dimes foundation.
Warning
Talk to your doctor before you use nicotine replacement products, such as gum or patches, during pregnancy. You might be able to use these products if you are a heavy smoker and have trouble quitting on your own, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, but discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
