Pregnancy

Smoking and Pregnancy | The Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy | Facts For a Healthy Pregnancy

Thinking of Having a Baby?

 

If you are a male or female and are thinking about having a family the time to stop smoking is long before conception occurs. Smoking and second hand smoke can affect your chances of conceiving and can be damaging to reproductive organs, eggs and semen. Smoking during the First Trimester can result in a host of problems and issues that can impact both the expectant mother and fetus. Smoking, including the effects of second hand smoke after giving birth, can affect the health and development of the new-born baby.

 

Teratogens are drugs, chemicals, or even infections that can cause abnormal fetal development and include alcohol, carbon monoxide and nicotine. Smoking and drinking result in high levels of alcohol, nicotine and carbon monoxide in the blood stream.

 

Carbon Monoxide has a higher affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen and a pack a day smoker will have carboxyhaemoglobin levels as high as 80 ppm and if you smoke all day you always have carbon monoxide in your blood stream that can affect you, your embryo or even your chances of conceiving or delivering.

Nicotine clears the body by way of first-order kinetics. One cigarette has a half life of 2 hours, which means if you smoke during the day you always have both carbon monoxide and nicotine in your blood stream 24-7, 365 days a year. Nicotine, the main psychoactive ingredient in tobacco, readily crosses the placental barrier to cause growth and neurobehavioral abnormalities in the offspring.

Alcohol clears the blood stream slowly by way of zero-order kinetics at a constant rate of 10-15 ml per hour or 1.0 ounce of 100 proof alcohol per hour and you can’t speed up its elimination.

Smoking is bad enough but smoking and drinking is worth quitting if you want to improve your chances of Becoming Pregnant and having a happy healthy baby.

 

 

 

Effects of Smoking Before Pregnancy

 

Smoking can adversely affect the ability of individuals to conceive and bear children

 

Smoking decreases fertility levels in both men and women

 

Tobacco use has been shown to cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in men

 

Smoking damages sperm DNA

 

Women who smoke are roughly twice as likely to experience a delay in conception

 

Smoking can speed up the rate at which fertility declines

 

Smoking can be harmful to the female ovaries

 

The severity of damage due to smoking is proportional to the amount and length of time that a woman smokes

 

The chemicals found in cigarettes, primarily nicotine, can interfere with the female’s natural ability to produce estrogen

 

The nicotine found in cigarettes can also cause eggs to be more prone to genetic abnormalities

 

Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy

 

Early rupture of membranes and premature rupture of the amniotic sac that can induce labor before the baby is fully developed

 

Infants exposed to smoke, both during pregnancy and after birth, are found to be more at risk of SIDS due to the increased levels of nicotine often found in SIDS cases

 

Smoking nearly doubles the risk of low birthweight babies

 

Smoking during pregnancy is implicated in placenta previa, ectopic pregnancies, placental abruption and congenital heart defects

 

Women who smoke anytime during the first trimester put their fetus at a higher risk for birth defects

 

Smoking can also impair the general development of the placenta and therefore the umbilical cord (which transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood to the placenta)

 

Smoking Effects After Pregnancy

 

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are more likely to die of SIDS

 

Infants born to smoking mothers are at an increased risk for bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, asthma, and impaired respiratory function and slowed lung growth

 

Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy may undergo withdrawal-like symptoms

 

About the Author

Joseph A. Gaetan Cht, Clt. is a smoking cessation specialist and cessation program design consultant, who has spent over 10 years helping people to quit smoking. Mr Gaetan received formal smoking cessation specific training from reputable organizations in the United States, Canada and the U.K. As a hands on smoking cessation specialist Mr Gaetan has helped thousands of people through the process of quitting and staying quit. Losing two family members to the battle against lung cancer motivated Mr. Gaetan to develop an ethical and efficacious program aimed at helping people beat their nicotine dependency.

Pregnancy and Smoking (Pregnancy Health Guru)

Let’s Not Smoke – If You Smoke and Are Pregnant This Video Will Help You Quit $28.00 When you smoke, your baby does too. When you’re pregnant, everything you eat, drink and breathe effects your health and your baby’s health. We know you’re addicted to cigarettes. But if you let us, we’ll teach you not to give in to the urge to smoke. We’ll help you quit, and help you stay quit. You’re taking the first step on a challenging journey. It’s one you should take with the support and gui…

Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – No to Pregnant Women Smoking Sign (glassy) – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Just Between Friends $3.27 They loved. They laughed. They lied. All in the name of friendship. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 01/15/2008 Starring: Ted Danson Mary Tyler Moore Run time: 111 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Allan Burns…

Smoke $19.98 SMOKE – DVD Movie…

Yogi Breathe Deep, Herbal Tea Supplement, 16-Count Tea Bags (Pack of 6) $18.90 Yogi 6X 16 Bag Organic Breathe Deep Tea Breathing Should Come Easily. So When You Find You Need A Little Help Clearing The Airways, Relax And Brew A Cup Of Our Breathe Deep® Tea. Yogi’S All-Organic Formulation Is A Blend Of Herbs Used In Many Herbal Traditions To Support Respiratory Health.: (Note: This Product Description Is Informational Only. Always Check The Actual Product Label In Your Po…