Let’s talk about smoking during pregnancy. First and foremost, please don’t start… and if you are smoking, please try very hard to stop.
Smoking decreases the amount of oxygen that your baby needs to grow and it decreases the blood flow to the uterus and the placenta. As a result, your baby is more likely to weigh much less than it would if you were not smoking. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk that your placenta will separate from the uterine wall before your baby is born. That, of course, would be a serious emergency. We also know that babies born to mothers who smoke are at an increased risk of dying from SIDS.
I hope your doctor or midwife will discuss this with you. If not, bring it up with them! Here are some things you can do:
• Set a goal for yourself – such as to quit smoking within the next 30 days.
• Also, figure out what situations trigger your need to smoke and learn to avoid those situations or locations.
• You should have a smoke free area in your home that you can retreat to for stress relief and relaxation; and
• Ask a friend to quit smoking with you – that way, you can support each other through the process.
• If you are having a particularly hard time, discuss with your physician whether the nicotine patch or another medication is appropriate to help you stop smoking.
Making the choice to stop smoking is one of the biggest things that you can do as a mom to actually improve the outcome of your pregnancy. Your baby will be healthy and you will feel much better.
by: Jill Mauldin, M.D.
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