An estimated 10 percent of pregnant women in the United States light up during pregnancy--this despite the fact tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide, benzene, cyanide, ammonia, nitrosamines, vinyl chloride, radioactive particles and other irritants and carcinogens. Nicotine produces pleasurable effects and relaxation in some people, builds rapid tolerance and comes with withdrawal symptoms that make it a true addiction. Babies born to mothers who smoke experience acute withdrawal characterized by headache, abdominal pain and irritability.
Pregnancy Loss
Smoking increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, miscarriage and stillbirth. The more a woman smokes, the greater her risk of loss. According to Anne Frye, author of "Holistic Midwifery," nonsmokers have 46 percent fewer miscarriages than women who smoke 10 cigarettes per day. The risk of stillbirth is 35 percent higher for mothers who smoke more than a pack a day.
Growth Retardation
Carbon monoxide in smoke binds with hemoglobin in the blood, interfering with the transport of oxygen throughout the body. A developing fetus deprived of oxygen will have impaired growth. The result may be missing fingers and toes or a baby who is too small for gestational age.
Placenta Problems
A placenta damaged by smoking is said to calcify or harden. It may be unable to provide oxygenated blood to the baby during the stress of labor, which can cause brain damage or stillbirth. Smoking also raises maternal blood pressure and the risk of placental abruption, a condition in which the afterbirth comes loose from the uterine wall too soon.
Heart Defects
A baby born with holes in the heart is said to have congenital heart defects. Heavy smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy, when the fetal heart forms, can cause this type of birth defect.
Infections
Smoking depletes antioxidants needed to fight infections and repair tissues. Smokers have double the risk of catching a cold and longer recovery times than nonsmokers. During early pregnancy, a high fever lasting longer than 24 hours has been associated with neural tube birth defects. During late pregnancy, infection with group B Streptococcus may require treatment with antibiotics due to the risk of neonatal respiratory disease.
Preterm Birth
Smoking impairs circulation and thins tissues, which is why the skin of smokers ages prematurely. Thinning also affects the bag of waters, which may break early, causing preterm birth. Premature infants may have serious difficulty breathing.
Low Birth Weight
Mothers who smoke throughout pregnancy are more likely to give birth to babies who weigh less than five-and-a-half pounds. According to the March of Dimes, a mother who quits smoking by 24 weeks' gestation has the same risk of having a low birth weight baby as a nonsmoking mother.
SIDS
Babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy have a three times higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), than babies of nonsmokers, according to the March of Dimes. Breastfeeding exclusively and positioning babies on their back to sleep can lower the risk of SIDS.
Heavy Smokers
Women who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day are cautioned to quit gradually in the first trimester of pregnancy. Stress and nicotine withdrawal symptoms may increase the risk of miscarriage. Smoking five or fewer cigarettes per day is associated with minimal risk during pregnancy.
Nutrition
According to Anne Frye, excellent nutrition can remedy some effects of smoking. Adequate protein intake and a diet rich in dark-green leafy vegetables (spinach, romaine lettuce and kale) strengthens tissues and replaces antioxidants. Plant fiber and omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, spirulina and coldwater fish are good sources of nutrition. Probiotics, such as those found in kefir and yogurt, may aid blood vessels and immune function.
References
- March of Dimes: Smoking During Pregnancy
- "Heart & Hands, A Midwife's Guide to Pregnancy & Birth"; Elizabeth Davis, CPM, 2004
- "Holistic Midwifery"; Anne Frye, 1998
