Does smoking cigarettes really affect the baby if you're pregnant?
By deltax
@deltax (287)
Philippines
April 7, 2007 8:22am CST
I have a friend who smokes like a chimney. I thought she was gonna quit when she got pregnant, but to my surprise she didn't. I was worried then that the baby might be affected with the nicotene and other harmful substances found in the cig. When the baby was born, the doctors did not find any negative findings on its screening and all the tests that they made. In fact, when that baby, now my godson, went to school, he got the first honor awards in the 1st and 2nd grade. So I was wondering, does smoking really affect the baby at pregnancy stage?
6 responses
@vicky19810 (1600)
• China
9 Apr 07
yes friend,it is so bad for your friend's baby if she will keep on smoking when being pregnant,i believe.maybe there are something wrong with the baby's health when he is born.so you should advise your friend from away the smoking,then she will have a beautiful and healthy baby soon.alright?
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
9 Apr 07
I think you need to re-read this post, i'm not being rude but she said the baby WAS already born & perfectly healthy (which is why she was asking if there really are any dangers), the baby is older now & is very smart :)
@vicky19810 (1600)
• China
9 Apr 07
i am sorry for my unconcentration for this post.now i know the all.but i will keep my idea ,i do not think it is good for a born baby when his mother always smokes .but for that clever kid,maybe it is exceptive matter.as the expert research said that the most new babies would have somewhat of fault.
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
9 Apr 07
Ok you're always gonna get pretty biased opinions in here - from smokers (who will always say no) & then from the non smokers (who will always say yes & refer to medical studies etc).
Everyone is different, i smoked but as my Dr instructed, i cut back & he was pleased with that.
The low birthweight & size thing for smoking mothers, i haven't found to be true - my daughter was in the high end weight (8lb 5oz), my sister in law had twin girls (they were between 5 & 7lb each which is apparently large for twins) & my other sister in law had a 9lb 10oz baby - both SIL's are smokers as well & they both smoke a lot more than i do.
I guess it also depends on other things you're around - maybe passive smoking (2nd hand smoke) is worse for a pregnant lady & her baby.
@smartmom (826)
• United States
7 Apr 07
It sure does affect the fetus, if you are smoking. Study after study has proved this fact, and these studies most often find a decrease in birthweight/infant growth, but is has also been documented that smoking when your pregnant and smoking around your children increases the risks of the child developing asthma at some stage in his or her life. It might not necessarily be possible to see any effects in all cases, but when the doctors studies a whole bunch of these children, this is where they have seen the increase. I think your godson has been very fortunate.
@psree2000 (82)
• India
7 Apr 07
Surely, smoking when you are pregnant will hamper the infants growth and nutrition. Smoking reduces the oxygen content in the blood and hence the baby is deprieved of the amount of oxygen supplied. The reason why your friends baby was not affected is a mystery. Though the effect may come later also.
@vinceiane0220 (119)
• Philippines
7 Apr 07
i really dont think so because i also smoke from my first pregnancy to the last one but my babies are all healthy. maybe its overated. my first child also is an honor student in her class very active and very bright. nah i dont really think it affects the pregnancy. maybe for those having problems with their health during pregnancy smoking is not really good.
