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The health and life of the unborn child should be a priority, therefore the pregnant woman should be aware of the risks posed by stimulants used during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy is unfortunately a common occurrence as some women are unaware of the risks they take when pregnant.
Despite the fact that the health and even life of an unborn child is fully dependent on the mother’s lifestyle, some women risk and smoke during pregnancy. In some environments, there is a perception that smoking or drinking alcohol has no effect on the fetus, nothing could be further from the truth. All stimulants, regardless of the amount, have a destructive effect on the child. Whether smoking in pregnancy is harmful or one glass of wine can be harmful to the fetus, the answer in both cases is yes.
Smoking during pregnancy – effects
Unfortunately, smoking during pregnancy is common among pregnant women. There is an opinion that cigarettes smoked in smaller amounts do not endanger the health of the unborn, it is not true. Even in the smallest doses, nicotine has a negative effect on the functioning of the mother’s body, and thus also on the development of the fetus. Not only nicotine, but also other components of a cigarette cause lung function disorders, and above all blood circulation, which reduces the blood supply and oxygenation of the uterus, which means that there is an increased risk of fetal hypoxia.
Daily and even occasional smoking during pregnancy, regardless of the number of cigarettes smoked, can affect the low birth weight of the baby. Other effects that smoking has when pregnant include the risk of complications in the birthing process. It is also important for the pregnant woman to know that passive smoking also negatively affects her health and the health of the unborn child, so if possible avoid public places where smoking is allowed.
What are other negative effects of smoking while pregnant?
- the fetus is exposed to about forty thousand chemicals, about forty of which are carcinogenic.
- the fetus is hypoxic and therefore does not receive the optimal amount of oxygen needed for normal development.
- there is an increased risk of complications during pregnancy, for example, miscarriage, detachment of the placenta, vaginal placenta, bleeding, premature birth or damage to the fetal bladder.
- children of pregnant women who smoke are at risk of developing genetic diseases.
- low birth weight
- children at a later stage of development may suffer from problems with the cardiovascular system, may have problems with metabolism, and are more likely to develop infections.
- smoking while pregnant increases the risk of Cot Death Syndrome.
Smoking During Pregnancy – How To Quit?
No addiction is easy to overcome, but specialists say that in drug addiction treatment, whether it is drinking alcohol or smoking while pregnant, the most important thing is to understand the goal. In this case, the goal is very important, because the health and even life of the child. Nature can help you quit smoking because nausea, which is a common symptom of pregnancy in the first trimester, and an acute sense of smell and taste, can effectively eliminate smoking from a pregnant woman’s daily routine. If a woman decides to quit smoking in the first weeks of pregnancy, there is a good chance that the baby will manage to balance weight and height parameters, and the risk of malformations will also decrease.
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