With all the scientific knowledge now available on the effects of smoking on your health, you would think the message would be getting through. This does not excuse the multi-national tobacco companies whose practices border on the criminal. Take a look at what happens from the production of cigarettes through to the toxic chemical created and released by the burning process and you will begin to understand what the act of smoking is doing to your health.
Now lets take a look at what the effects of smoking during pregnancy has on your unborn baby.. The effects range from mild to very extreme. These effects of smoking during pregnancy, can have negative repercussions not only on the development of the baby but will have ongoing implications through childhood and possibly into adulthood.
What Are The Probable Complications in the Mother?
The effects of smoking during pregnancy on the expectant mother are as follows:
1. Possible hospitalization due to excessive vomiting.
2. Urinary tract infections,
3. An ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg grows in the wrong place.
4. The placenta separating from the uterine wall before delivery or an excess of amniotic fluid.
These complications are known to occur both during pregnancy and delivery.
As the effects of smoking during pregnancy can cause a miscarriage or a stillbirth, there is a probability that psychological problems, such as depression, can arise. Lastly, if hemorrhaging occurs during birth, this can cause the mother to die.
Now Lets Consider The Possible Complications in the Child
The effects of smoking during pregnancy on an unborn child can be divided into four categories. The four categories are:
1. Retard the size of the baby,
2. Precipitate Genetic abnormalities,
3. Lay the foundation for Illnesses to possibly developed later in childhood,
4. Death.
The birth weight and size of the newborn is greatly altered due to smoking for two reasons.
1. The increased possibility of Preterm delivery.
2. Owing to the impairment of nutrition flowing to the baby, who instead receives chemicals such as nicotine and carbon monoxide instead. Without the nutrients, the baby is thus often underweight, which increase his or her chances of becoming ill.
More serious effects of smoking during pregnancy can cause genetic abnormalities, such as cleft lip and cleft palate; bowel problems can also be experienced. Other abnormalities in the sensory systems such as the eyes and ears can be affected. Finally More severe consequences can be seen. These include spinal cord problems, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation.
With the forgoing information in mind, you would be wise to consider your actions carefully; do you really want to risk the health of your unborn child?
Unfortunately, the consequences can develop later in childhood.
Quite often in early childhood, respiratory problems, such as asthma, are seen. Another area of concerns is behavior disorders which often develop in toddlers. The most shocking consequence of the effects of smoking during pregnancy is sudden infant death syndrome.
The consequences can carry over to adolescents, which includes increased likelihood of smoking themselves.
Responsible parenting should be in the forefront of the minds of the parents, family and friends. The effects of smoking during pregnancy have far reaching repercussions, particularly for the mother, fetus, baby, toddler child and adolescent. It is important that all parents to be, take this information to heart and act accordingly with the wellbeing of their newborn in mind.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy To Yourself And your Unborn Baby.
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