The Dangers of Tobacco Use for Pregnant Women: What You Need to Know
World No Tobacco Day is an annual event celebrated on May 31 to raise awareness about the dangers associated with tobacco use. One of the most vulnerable groups affected by tobacco use is pregnant women. In this article, we will explore the various risks and dangers associated with smoking during pregnancy and offer tips and advice on how to quit smoking to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
The Risks and Dangers of Smoking During Pregnancy
Smoking during pregnancy can cause many complications and health issues for both the mother and her unborn child. Here are some of the risks associated with smoking during pregnancy:
Reduced Fertility: Smoking can interfere with the normal function of a female’s ovaries and reduce the number of mature eggs that can be fertilized by lowering the egg count.
Preconception Damage: Even prior to conception, exposure to secondhand or passive smoking can damage biological processes during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum.
Premature Birth: Overexposure to smoking in later months of pregnancy has been shown to cause premature births, low birth weight babies, stillbirths, intrauterine fetal death, or even sudden infant death syndrome.
Birth Defects: Smoking is associated with birth defects such as cleft lip, cleft palate, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, limb reduction defect, gastroschisis, and hypospadias.
Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Smoking can cause intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). It is a condition in which a baby is smaller in size than normal for the gestational age.
Complications: Tobacco use increases the risk of complications such as hypertension during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, and premature rupture of membranes
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Infants born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Quitting Smoking Before Pregnancy: What Experts Say
“The best time to quit smoking is at least four months before pregnancy, that is, as long as you are planning the pregnancy,” Dr. Rajashri Tayshete Bhasale, a consultant gynecologist, laparoscopic surgeon and obstetrician at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira, told IANS. Road.
According to health experts, quitting smoking before pregnancy can significantly reduce the risks of complications and health issues. Quitting smoking before pregnancy can lead to:
Improved Fertility: Quitting smoking can help improve fertility in both women and men.
Reduced Risk of Birth Defects: The chances of giving birth to a baby with birth defects decrease significantly if a woman stops smoking before pregnancy.
Reduced Risk of Complications: Quitting smoking before pregnancy can reduce the risk of complications such as hypertension during pregnancy and gestational diabetes.
Healthy Baby: A woman who quits smoking before pregnancy is more likely to have a healthy baby. She is less likely to give birth to a baby with a low birth weight or be born prematurely.
Tips for Quitting Smoking During Pregnancy
Quitting smoking can be challenging, especially during pregnancy. Here are some tips to help women quit smoking during pregnancy:
Start Early: The earlier a woman quits smoking, the better it is for her and her baby. If a woman is planning a pregnancy, it is recommended that she quits smoking at least four months before conception.
Get Support: Women who get support from their partner, family, and friends are more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy.
Avoid Triggers: Avoiding triggers such as smoking in the same room as others, drinking alcohol, or being around other smokers can help women stay motivated to quit smoking.
Get Professional Help: Seeking professional help such as counseling or medication can increase the chances of successfully quitting.
The Bottom Line
Smoking during pregnancy can have severe consequences for both the mother and the unborn child. Quitting smoking before pregnancy is the best way to reduce the risks associated with tobacco use. Women who quit smoking during pregnancy can give their child the best possible start in life. It is never too late to quit smoking, and getting help can significantly improve the chances of success.
Summary:
Smoking during pregnancy can cause many complications and health issues for both the mother and her unborn child. Some of the risks associated with smoking during pregnancy include reduced fertility, premature birth, birth defects, intrauterine growth restriction, complications such as hypertension during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, and premature rupture of membranes. Quitting smoking before pregnancy can significantly reduce the risks of complications and health issues associated with tobacco use. Women who quit smoking during pregnancy can give their child the best possible start in life. It is recommended that women quit smoking at least four months before conception. Cleaning your environment of smoke sources, such as avoiding smoking in the room, as well as abstinence from alcohol, smoking, and being around smokers, can boost a woman’s chance of quitting. Professional help, such as counseling or medication, can increase the chances of successfully quitting.
—————————————————-
| Article | Link |
|---|---|
| UK Artful Impressions | Premiere Etsy Store |
| Sponsored Content | View |
| 90’s Rock Band Review | View |
| Ted Lasso’s MacBook Guide | View |
| Nature’s Secret to More Energy | View |
| Ancient Recipe for Weight Loss | View |
| MacBook Air i3 vs i5 | View |
| You Need a VPN in 2023 – Liberty Shield | View |
World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on May 31 to educate people about the dangers associated with tobacco use.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
SLIDE TO CONTINUE READING
“The best time to quit smoking is at least four months before pregnancy, that is, as long as you are planning the pregnancy,” Dr. Rajashri Tayshete Bhasale, a consultant gynecologist, laparoscopic surgeon and obstetrician at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira, told IANS. Road.
“Smoking can interfere with the normal function of a female’s ovaries and reduces the number of mature eggs that can be fertilized by lowering the egg count,” said Dr. Manju Gupta, Senior Consultant, OB/GYN, Motherhood Hospitals, Noida.
According to health experts, exposure to even secondhand or passive smoking can damage biological processes during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum.
“Even during nine months of pregnancy, a woman’s susceptibility to the effects of secondhand smoke could be altered, reflecting various pathways of damage as the fetus develops and grows,” Dr. Gupta told IANS.
“
Avoid any contact with direct smoke or smoking in the same room. Traces of smoke are seen to be found for hours after smoking, therefore smoking in the house should be avoided and guests should also be instructed in the same way,” said Dr. Bhasale.
He explained that nicotine, present in tobacco, is a powerful vasoconstrictor, so it can cause abortions, ectopic pregnancies, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or birth defects in babies.
Women exposed to smoke “are more likely to develop hypertension during pregnancy and its complications. Studies have shown that smoking is associated with birth defects such as cleft lip, cleft palate, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, limb reduction defect, gastroschisis, and hypospadias. More overexposure in later months of pregnancy has been shown to cause premature births, low birth weight babies, stillbirths, intrauterine fetal death or even sudden infant death syndrome,” Dr Bhasale told IANS.
Tobacco is one of the main preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in the country. Smoking is a growing concern in India. Tobacco use affects every organ in the body. Smoking contains tobacco that causes lung cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
“Other problems caused by tobacco are wheezing, chronic cough, increased mucus and shortness of breath. Smoking decreases lung function. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to quit tobacco and lead a healthy life. All the ways are harmful. Furthermore, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco. It is better to quit in all its forms,” Dr. Samir Garde, Director of the Department of Pulmonology and Lung Transplantation at Global Hospitals, Parel, told IANS.
https://zeenews.india.com/health/world-no-tobacco-day-2023-heres-how-smoking-affects-pregnancy-and-womens-health-2616028/amp
—————————————————-