Pregnancy | Fact or Fiction?
...Passive smoking harms unborn babies, causes asthma, cot death, and respiratory illness in children...
Professor Fiona Stanley
Dept of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia
Some of the Most Common Things That Pregnant Women Think
"Smoking doesn't hurt unborn babies"
Fiction!
Facts
When you inhale smoke you are putting over 4000 chemicals into your body. The Carbon Monoxide gets into your blood stream and cuts down on the oxygen reaching your baby.
If your baby doesn't get enough oxygen it may be born smaller and weaker.
"I'm already pregnant so the damage is done"
Fiction!
Facts
Smoking is harmful throughout pregnancy.
Stopping smoking will benefit your baby immediately.
As soon as you become smoke free the carbon monoxide and chemicals begin to clear from your body and your oxygen levels begin to return to normal.
"My friends and family smoke but that's ok"
Fiction!
Facts
If you spend time with other people who smoke you will be exposed to second-hand smoke.
Second-hand smoke is dangerous because the harmful gases and chemicals go to you and then to the baby.
After birth, babies who live in a smoky environment have a higher risk of cot death.
Are you risking your health and that of your baby?
Smoking during pregnancy can cause:
You:
- Miscarriage
- Bleeding
- Sickness
Your Baby:
- Slow Growth of the foetus
- Premature birth
- Still Birth
- Low Birth Weight
- Cot death
- Breathing and wheezing problems
Quitting now will mean you suffer less:
- Morning sickness
- Complications
Why not take a look at the other Smoking During Pregnancy pages:
20 Reasons
20 great reasons not to smoke when you are pregnant
Fact or Fiction?
The answers to your smoking during pregnancy questions
Reasons for Staying Stopped
Tips and hints on how to stay stopped once the baby is born