There is no getting away from it. Every cigarette a woman smokes while she is pregnant has a direct, negative effect on her baby s growth and development. Women who smoke have a miscarriage rate that is twice as high as that of women who don t smoke. As the placenta spreads itself further and further within the uterus in an attempt to gain a greater surface area from which to draw nutrients and oxygen, it becomes thinner which increases the risks of placenta previa and placental abruption. On average, babies born to smokers weigh 8 ounces less than those born to non-smokers.
Smaller babies are more vulnerable to infections and other diseases.
Premature birth the baby s struggle to get food and oxygen in the womb can cause the body to feel that the baby can no longer be fed properly. This can lead to premature rupture of the membranes and to premature labour. One study showed that at age 14 the children of smokers were more likely to have a respiratory illness, to be shorter than other children and to be less successful at school. So, the sooner a woman quits the better. We'd love to hear from you.