Secondhand Smoke Effects on Pregnant Mothers
We all know that smoking during pregnancy is not a good idea, but being around others who smoke can also be harmful to both mother and baby. In fact, secondhand smoke is just as bad as smoking a cigarette yourself.
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Low Birthweight
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According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), women exposed to secondhand smoke while pregnant have a 20 percent higher risk of giving birth to a baby with a low birth weight. This can have numerous ramifications for the baby's development.
Fetal Demise
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Pregnant women who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of miscarrying or giving birth to a baby who has died in utero.
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Effects on Children
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Children who are born to moms who have inhaled secondhand smoke during pregnancy are at higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and may have decreased lung function. Underdeveloped lungs are especially problematic for babies who have been born prematurely.
Fetal Consumption of Toxins
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It is important to remember that most items that a mother ingests are passed along through the umbilical cord to the growing fetus. This includes all the toxins included in tobacco smoke, like nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. Each of these toxins has the ability to impact the growth and development of the child.
Effects on the Mother
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The mother, of course, ingests the secondhand smoke before passing along the toxins to her child, so the mother is at risk for disease as well. If the mother develops an illness related to secondhand smoke during pregnancy, that puts both her life and the child's at risk. For example, if the mother has been exposed to secondhand smoke her whole life, she may develop emphysema or bronchitis, which puts her health at risk during the pregnancy. Anything that puts the mother at risk also puts the fetus at risk.
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