When to Quit Smoking During a Pregnancy

According to the American Lung Association, about 10 percent of women smoke during pregnancy in the United States. Smoking during pregnancy can cause numerous health problems for babies, including birth defects, low birth weight and premature delivery, and also increases risks of placental and bleeding complications for the mother. The March of Dimes states that smoking during pregnancy also triples the risk of having a baby die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). For these reasons, experts encourage pregnant women to quit smoking immediately.

Time Frame

The ideal time to quit smoking is before becoming pregnant. Smoking even in early pregnancy can increase the risk of having a baby with problems such as heart defects. However, the earlier in pregnancy a mother quits, the better the chances will be for having a healthy baby and a full-term delivery. According to the March of Dimes, women who quit smoking by the time they are six months pregnant have about the same risk of premature birth as those who have not smoked.

Effects

The March of Dimes states that women who smoke during pregnancy are almost twice as likely to have a baby with low birth weight. This can occur because of slow growth during pregnancy, premature birth, or both. Since smoking during pregnancy can slow the baby's growth and cause premature labor, the sooner a pregnant mother quits smoking, the better the chances will be of having a full size baby. Babies with low birth weight are at greater risk of immediate and long-term health problems, such as breathing difficulties, bleeding in the brain, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning disabilities.

Benefits

According to Public Health Service estimates, if all pregnant women in the United States quit smoking, the rate of stillbirths would drop 11 percent and 5 percent fewer newborns would die. Quitting smoking as soon as possible also has many health benefits for the mother, such as lowering the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and lung disease. Quitting smoking also eliminates the cost of cigarettes, leaving pregnant women more money to spend on their pregnancy and baby costs.

Misconceptions

Some women who smoke plan to quit after they find out they are pregnant, and resume smoking after the birth of the baby. However, most women do not find out they are pregnant until their unborn babies are several weeks old, leaving them vulnerable to the chemicals in cigarettes. Those who resume smoking after pregnancy pass nicotine to the baby through breast milk if they are nursing, and expose the baby to second hand smoke, which can cause ear infections, asthma, and an increased risk of cancer. The American Lung Association states that second hand smoke causes up to 430 cases of SIDS every year.

Considerations

Some women find it easier to quit smoking during pregnancy than at other times, since the smell of cigarettes can cause nausea, especially during early pregnancy. Many women are also less concerned about the possibility of weight gain after quitting, since they are already gaining weight from pregnancy, and can lose it after the baby is born. Also, the health and well being of the baby, and the encouragement and support of health providers, can provide significant motivation for a pregnant mother to quit smoking.