Smoking is a harmful and unappealing pastime, as you fully know. Cigarette smoke contains a variety of 7,000 toxic chemicals and poisons, 70 of which can trigger some dangerous types of cancer. Meanwhile, users are also putting the lives of bystanders at risk by exhaling secondhand smoke, which can sometimes be more dangerous than the smoke being inhaled by the cigarette users. So, imagine how complicated the situation can get for a mother who smokes and is expecting a baby. Not only is her body susceptible to damage, but her child will also suffer tremendous health problems down the road. So, how does cigarette smoke affect the mom and her baby? Let’s take a closer look at this unfortunate and unpleasant situation and find out some more information.
Drop in Fertility
First of all, let’s address a major problem that can take place before a child is conceived. Studies have shown that women who smoke cigarettes have a lower chance of conceiving a child than healthy women. Overall, if you are a smoker and wish to get pregnant, we recommend you drop the cigarettes for this reason, at least.
Dangers during Pregnancy
Unfortunately, pregnant women who smoke cigarettes are putting themselves at a higher risk for experiencing a miscarriage, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy. So, what could make this situation even more unfortunate? Additional studies have revealed that women who used to smoke and female non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke can suffer from these same tragedies.
Placenta Previa and Abruption
During pregnancy, women can also experience the following conditions surrounding damage to the baby’s life source: the placenta. Pregnant smokers have a potentially high risk for suffering from placenta previa, a condition where the placenta is situated too close to the cervical entrance (in which case a woman will have to deliver via C-section). In another dangerous situation, women may suffer placenta abruption, which can result in premature birth or the baby’s death (stillbirth or sudden infant death syndrome). Another unfortunate problem faced by smoking others is amniotic rupturing, where the baby’s amniotic sac tears (adding to the difficulty of carrying a baby to full-term).
Seeking Treatment for Cigarette Use
Cigarettes are incredibly dangerous devices that can inflict tremendous damage on your mind and body, so imagine the complications that can arise when you smoke while pregnant. Both you and your baby will be at risk for suffering terrible sicknesses. Always remember, though, you can prevent this from happening. Are you suffering from cigarette abuse or a severe case of nicotine addiction? Is one of your friends or your loved ones also suffering from one of these problems? In either case, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the rehabilitation process and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle.
If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to break away from cigarettes for good.
