How Could Your Decision To Smoke While Pregnant Affect Your Unborn Child?

Tobacco.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of health problems for developing babies, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects of the mouth and lip.

Smoking during and after pregnancy also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

How does smoking when pregnant affect the baby?

Smoking during pregnancy affects you and your baby’s health before, during, and after your baby is born. Increase your baby’s heart rate. Increase the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth. Increase the risk that your baby is born prematurely and/or born with low birth weight.

What happens if you smoke before you know you’re pregnant?

Your baby could be born too early, have a birth defect, or die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Even being around cigarette smoke can cause health problems for you and your baby. It’s best to quit smoking before you get pregnant.

Can a smoker have a healthy baby?

You also lower your risk for many other health problems. and had a healthy baby, so this baby will be healthy, too. Smoking during pregnancy increases the chances of having a small or preterm baby (born before term). Preterm babies are more likely than normal weight babies to have serious health problems.

Why is smoking bad when your pregnant?

Every time you smoke, the baby effectively smokes too, as harmful nicotine and other chemicals pass through the placenta and into the fetus. Smoking also reduces blood flow for your baby. Smoking while pregnant can result in a far higher risk of: miscarriage, stillbirth or ectopic pregnancy.