“What are the effects of smoking on a baby in utero?”
I am a 25 year old pregnant woman and I am trying my best not to smoke. What are the effects of smoking on a baby in utero?
5 Answers
OB-GYN(Obstetrician-Gynecologist)OB-GYN
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/pregnancy/index.htm
Sure, the baby could experience IUGR- Intrauterine growth restriction, which if severe may jeopardize the life of the fetus including demise and preterm birth
In every pregnancy, a woman starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a baby with a birth defect. This is called her background risk. Some studies suggest that cigarette smoking during pregnancy may increase the chance of an oral cleft in the baby, especially if oral clefts run in the family. An oral cleft occurs when the lip or palate (roof of the mouth) does not fully close as it should during the baby’s development.
Cigarette smoking is also associated with a higher chance of premature delivery, placental problems, lower birth weight, stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Premature delivery is a birth before 37 weeks. The more a woman smokes, the greater her chance for a premature delivery and the earlier the baby may be born. A baby born too early has a higher chance for health problems and may need to stay in the hospital longer, possibly in an intensive care unit. Low birth weight can also make it harder for the baby to recover from serious health problems. Women who stop smoking early in pregnancy can lower their chance of having a baby with low birth weight.
Smoking during pregnancy is also linked to serious problems with the placenta (the organ that connects the developing baby to the mother). These problems include placenta previa (placenta blocks the birth canal) and placental abruption (placenta breaks away from the uterine wall early). These conditions can cause vaginal bleeding and can be life threatening to the mother or result in loss of the pregnancy.
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy may also lead to lung problems for the baby. A higher chance of asthma, bronchitis and respiratory infections during childhood has been found.
More information like this can be found for free at: mothertobaby.org
Cigarette smoking is also associated with a higher chance of premature delivery, placental problems, lower birth weight, stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Premature delivery is a birth before 37 weeks. The more a woman smokes, the greater her chance for a premature delivery and the earlier the baby may be born. A baby born too early has a higher chance for health problems and may need to stay in the hospital longer, possibly in an intensive care unit. Low birth weight can also make it harder for the baby to recover from serious health problems. Women who stop smoking early in pregnancy can lower their chance of having a baby with low birth weight.
Smoking during pregnancy is also linked to serious problems with the placenta (the organ that connects the developing baby to the mother). These problems include placenta previa (placenta blocks the birth canal) and placental abruption (placenta breaks away from the uterine wall early). These conditions can cause vaginal bleeding and can be life threatening to the mother or result in loss of the pregnancy.
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy may also lead to lung problems for the baby. A higher chance of asthma, bronchitis and respiratory infections during childhood has been found.
More information like this can be found for free at: mothertobaby.org
Nicotine in cigarettes causes growth restriction of the baby. Secondhand smoke exposure could also cause this, i.e., if your partner smokes. Also, after birth, baby will be at increased risk for lung problems including asthma. Stay healthy!
Some of the more prominent effects are low birth weight, increased respiratory disease after birth, and premature deliveries. Nothing beneficial.
