Smoking while pregnant is very detrimental to the health of the developing baby, according to the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In its findings, the program cites the American Lung Association, which points out that poisonous nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes are transferred to the developing fetus through the placenta. Not only can this harm the fetus, but it can also increase the risk of the baby having health issues after it is born, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Lung Association also advises women not to smoke after the baby is born, since nicotine from cigarettes can be passed through breast milk.
Limited Food and Oxygen
When a pregnant woman smokes, the baby gets limited levels of oxygen and food, notes the Department of Health and Human Services. Smoking negatively impacts the function of the placenta and lessens the ability of the mother to deliver a robust baby.
Low Birth Weight
Smoking during pregnancy raises the risks of low infant birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Babies exposed to nicotine in the womb may not thrive as well as babies of nonsmoking mothers.
Premature Birth
Premature birth occurs at about a 30 percent higher rate in mothers who smoke while pregnant, notes the Centers for Disease Control. The nicotine in cigarettes has a profound impact on the health of the developing baby via entering the baby's bloodstream before birth. Nicotine and other toxins may cause the baby to develop lung disorders, cleft palate and learning disabilities.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage risk increases when a pregnant mother smokes, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The chemicals in cigarettes may cause a pregnancy to end early and suddenly.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) occurs at a rate of 1.4 to 3 times more often to babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A pregnant woman who smokes compromises the respiratory function of her baby. The exact cause of SIDS is not yet known; however, being exposed to nicotine in utero is known to raise a baby's risk of this disorder.
