It has been scientifically proven that smoking is dangerous for everyone. Currently, statistics show that the number of the weaker sex has increased dramatically among those who like to “smoke”. Smoking is a dangerous habit that can be very difficult to break. Unfortunately, for some women, pregnancy is not a reason to quit smoking, and this carries a danger not only to the health of the mother, but also to the development of the fetus.

Smoking and its effect on the body

Cigarettes contain substances that, when ingested, cause poisoning in very small doses. If you study the composition of a cigarette, you can find in it the content of glue, carbon monoxide, nicotine and tar. Tobacco smoke infects the lungs, resulting in a painful cough, and long-term smokers with a predisposition may develop cancer. It would seem that such an insignificant habit leads to such diseases as:

– morning cough;

– chronic bronchitis;

– lungs’ cancer;

– violations in the work of the cardiovascular system;

– the formation of platelets;

– the development of heart attack and stroke;

– gastritis and stomach ulcer;

– development of impotence;

– disruption of the reproductive system;

– diseases of the urethra.

This is not the whole list of diseases that smoking leads to. It has been scientifically proven that smoking people increase the risk of various diseases, including tumors, since harmful substances poison cells and reduce the body’s ability to fight the disease.

The above diseases affect a healthy body, but the situation is much more complicated when a smoking woman is carrying a child.

What causes smoking during pregnancy?

Not only the body of a smoking mother, but also the developing fetus suffers from smoking. It can be difficult for women who smoke to give up the habit, but doctors strongly recommend doing everything possible to preserve the health of the fetus.

Statistics show that women who have a bad habit of smoking have an increased risk of developing complications during pregnancy. In more than 30% of cases, there is a risk of miscarriage. Cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen supplied to the fetus by 10%, as a result, oxygen deficiency develops, leading, in turn, to underdevelopment. Smoke enriched harmful substances enter the lungs of a developing embryo, at birth it is fraught with lung diseases, such as asthma or chronic bronchitis.

Smoking in the first trimester, when the fetus is not yet strong and entirely dependent on the behavior of the mother, can lead to the development of congenital malformations, such as cleft lip, deformity of the skull and limbs, and mental retardation.

Harmful substances contained in cigarettes can affect the psyche and nervous system of a newborn child. In 1/3 of children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, convulsions are observed. The child may be susceptible to epilepsy.

Among other things, a smoking expectant mother predetermines her child’s habits in advance. Doctors say that addictions during pregnancy, such as smoking, alcohol, drug use, lead to the fact that the child develops dependence on substances while still in the womb.

Needless to say about the state of the smoking pregnant woman herself, because the growing body begins to put pressure on the internal organs, the lungs are already under stress, and if smoking is added to this, an allergic cough may appear. Smoking in a pregnant woman leads to shortness of breath, even a small distance traveled makes you out of breath, feel heaviness and a desire to immediately rest.

Smoking leads not only to internal, but also external changes, because the skin of the face becomes unnatural grayish, yellowish, greenish shades. There are circles under the eyes. In some cases, smoking provokes stomach problems, and these, in turn, cause bad breath.

In cases where a woman has problems conceiving, it is worth giving up smoking. It is this habit that can “block” a woman’s ability to bear children.

Such a pleasant and joyful event as pregnancy can be very difficult for a woman. If the habit took place before pregnancy for quite a long time, then the woman should immediately take measures to give up cigarettes!

How to give up a bad habit?

There are two opinions that differ from each other: some doctors say that quitting smoking should be done gradually so as not to harm the body, while others are sure that it is necessary to quit smoking during pregnancy immediately.

Gradually quitting smoking will reduce the risk of stress in the body. By daily reducing the number of cigarettes smoked, you can gradually come to the fact that the body gets used to getting less and less harmful substances, adapts to the supply of oxygen and gradually improves its work.

If a pregnant woman gives up smoking not of her own free will, but at the insistence of doctors or loved ones, then this can provoke irritability, aggression, sudden mood changes, eating disorders. All these factors are dangerous for the embryo, and therefore it is recommended to reduce the number of cigarettes gradually.

Doctors who claim that it is necessary to immediately quit smoking during pregnancy should explain to the woman the seriousness of the addiction, but in no case should they intimidate the expectant mother.

The smoking woman herself needs to realize that smoking causes irreparable harm to the health of the child. The weakness of the mother should not affect the health of the baby, because 9 months is not such a long time not to quit smoking at least for a while.

What can replace smoking?

Smoking is a bad habit that leads to nicotine addiction. To break a habit, you need to replace it with something useful.

A pregnant woman is shown a little physical activity, so you can sign up for yoga, go to the pool, attend events for expectant mothers, communicate more with pregnant women who will support and not judge. Currently, there are a huge number of groups designed for pregnant women, in which you can find everything from lectures on pregnancy to making memorabilia for the baby.

It is important to avoid stressful situations, think about the health of the child and try to do everything so that he is born happy and full! Conflicts, negativity, stress all this needs to be excluded from your life. As soon as something appears that makes your hands nervous, they immediately reach for cigarettes, so you should take care of your emotional and mental peace.

For some pregnant women, cigarettes cause a strong disgust, and they can not even look at other people who smoke, not to mention that they themselves touch a cigarette. But others have a strong desire to “smoke”, sometimes it happens even in those women who did not smoke before. Naturally, the fault raging hormones, but you should be aware of your actions, and, if possible, not harm the body.