There are certain activities, which are not conducive for pregnancy and should be avoided by a pregnant lady by all means. Smoking is one such thing. Smoking during pregnancy not only affects the baby’s health in an adverse way, but it also creates many complications for the mother.

What is injurious to health?

The smoke of cigarette contains an approximate number of 2000 components many of which are utterly harmful for pregnant women and their babies. Some such components are nicotine, carbon monoxide and cyanide. These substances often cross the placenta and affect the baby’s health.

The harmful affects

At the very onset, it is essential to mention the fact that more a woman indulges in smoking, the more the complications. The baby of a mother, who smokes, is generally smaller and weighs less sometimes around 170 to 200 grams lesser than healthy baby.

Smoking during pregnancy can also lead to genetic abnormalities and hence cause cleft lip, cleft palate, and problem with eyes, ears, bowel and spinal cord. Some other probable problems are ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, miscarriage, premature birth, placenta-related disorder, thrush, Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), polyhydramnios, etc. A baby matured in a smoke-filled womb can even develop a disease in later life – like asthma.

Apart from the baby, a smoking mother can also face several health hazards – like excessive vomiting, chest infection, blood clotting, premature rapture of the membranes, vaginal bleeding, etc.

Therefore it is immensely beneficial for women, particularly mothers to stop smoking. Support from family, friends and health professionals can help a woman to overcome smoking habit.