Keep tobacco away from your unborn child

Tue, Jun 03, 2014

By Dr Camille Nicholls Consultant Obstetrician (SVG Medical Association 2014)

For most women the discovery that she is pregnant represents the essence of being a woman. She does everything in her power to ensure that her unborn child gets the best care.{{more}}

If your health isn’t enough reason to make you quit smoking, then the health of your baby should be. Smoking during pregnancy affects you and your baby’s health. The nicotine and numerous other poisons you inhale from a cigarette are carried through your blood stream and go directly to your unborn child.. There is no “safe” level of smoking while pregnant. Smoking during pregnancy can damage the health of both mothers and babies.

Smoking can affect your pregnancy in the following ways: vaginal bleeding leading to miscarriages; birth defects of the heart, face, limbs, skull and muscles; poor circulation of blood through the placenta; premature rupture of membranes (leakage of water); premature labour and delivery; and still birth.

Even after the baby is born, the effects of smoking during pregnancy can still adversely affect the baby by increasing the risk of Sudden Infant Death syndrome (SIDS), colic, asthma, respiratory infections and childhood obesity. These children may have problems with emotional and behavioural developments and their ability to learn may be adversely affected.

Breast feeding mothers are also advised not to smoke, as your baby will be exposed to harmful chemicals through your breast milk. Reducing the amount of smoke during pregnancy is a step in the right direction, but quitting smoking will have the most positive impact on your health and the health of your baby.

Fortunately few Vincentian woman smoke and most of those who do, smoke socially. Consequently abstaining from smoking during pregnancy should not be too difficult. In St Vincent and the Grenadines women tend to be exposed to second-hand smoke – also called passive smoking. The smoke emitted from the end of a cigarette actually contains more harmful substances than the smoke inhaled by the smoker.

The fact that you were able to quit smoking while pregnant is an incentive to continue with this healthy trend. If you were able to accomplish this feat for the duration of your pregnancy, make a concerted effort to continue – you, your baby and your entire family will reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.