It is common knowledge that smoking is harmful to you, and your unborn child. There is a great deal of research being done on the harmful affects of smoking and second hand smoke but more information is needed.
We know that 4000 toxic chemicals, some of which cause cancer, are in tobacco smoke. When you are pregnant these chemicals pass to the baby through the placenta.
We also know that cigarette smoke damages the cells lining the blood vessels and heart which is why smoking in adults can cause heart attacks, strokes and other heart diseases. Unfortunately smoking is also damaging to the blood vessels of the placenta. The placenta allows the transfer of nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the fetus and the transfer of waste products and carbon dioxide back from the fetus to the mother. Because of the damage to the placenta of smokers the baby doesn't receive the oxygen and nutrition it needs to grow and mature. That is why smokers babies are sometimes small, and stressed and the placenta will be pale and gritty as a result of the smoke damage to the blood vessels there. This damage to the placenta can also cause placental abruption, which is when the placenta becomes detached from the wall of the womb; this is very serious and can be life threatening for both mom and the baby.
Babies of smokers also have lungs that develop prematurely. This often results in a lifelong increased chance of developing asthma and emphysema.
We don't completely understand the results of the exposure of nicotine to a growing baby's brain. There is, however, some evidence that it might be linked to ADHD and other learning and behavior problems.
I hope you will find this information helpful as you think about your commitment to quit, and I hope it will strengthen your resolve as you follow through on this desire.
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