The Dangers of Smoking While Pregnant

There is no clear evidence that smoking prior to pregnancy will harm a developing fetus, but it is well documented that smoking during pregnancy is very harmful. It affects the baby’s development in utero. Babies of smoking mothers are not as healthy at birth as babies of nonsmoking mothers. Pregnant women who smoke need to quit and give their babies the chance they deserve to be healthy and strong. Since smoking during pregnancy can be fatal to the baby, it should be illegal for pregnant women to smoke.

As a Medical Assistant, I have studied the risks of smoking while pregnant. The following are a few of these risks. The fetus may not get enough oxygen and it may not be getting enough nutrition because the mother may be eating less. The baby may be too small and it may not grow well after birth. The baby may have breathing problems and it may be less healthy and less able to survive than babies of mothers who don’t smoke. There are many more risks; these are just a few. If pregnant women quit smoking early in pregnancy it will reduce the risk of harm to their baby. The sooner they stop smoking, the better.

According to the American Lung Association, “Smoking during pregnancy

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