Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Limited Smoking during Pregnancy | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
How much damage does smoking do to your baby if you have say one every other day?— Curious Mom | | | ANSWER |
April 2, 2001 | | | Dear Curious,
Most of the research on smoking and pregnancy has shown that smoking more than a half pack a day increases the risk of miscarriage and of the baby's being small or coming early. Cigarette smoking puts carbon monoxide into your blood, while the baby needs oxygen. The nicotine also causes spasms of the blood vessels that feed the baby oxygen and nutrients, decreasing flow to the child.
Smoking is a difficult addiction to break. Once you are off cigarettes and don't have them in the house, it will be easier to quit and to stay off of them after the baby is born. If the baby's father smokes, see if you can get him to quit with you.
Smoking is dangerous for the fetus, and it is bad for children. Secondhand smoke not only has numerous health effects, but research also has found that the biggest predictor of which pre-teens start smoking is a parent who smokes. Therefore by smoking around your children, you are more likely to pass on the unhealthy habit.
You have gotten this far--see if you can go the next step and become a non-smoker. It is better for your health and for the long-term health of those you love.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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