Smoking During Pregnancy: Serious Health Risks for Mother and Child

Smoking during pregnancy is a serious health risk for both the mother and the child. It can lead to a variety of complications including
Low birth weight Babies born to mothers who smoke are more likely to be born with low birth weight which can increase the risk of health problems later in life.
Premature birth Smoking increases the risk of premature birth which can also lead to health problems for the child.
Stillbirth Smoking increases the risk of stillbirth which is the death of a baby before birth.

Sudden infant death syndrome SIDS SIDS is the sudden unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year old. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of SIDS.
Longterm health problems in the child Children born to mothers who smoke are more likely to develop health problems later in life such as heart disease diabetes and learning disabilities.

Health problems in the mother Smoking during pregnancy can also increase the risk of health problems for the mother such as cancer heart disease and stroke.

If you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant it is important to quit smoking. There are many resources available to help you quit including counseling medication and support groups.
Here are some tips for quitting smoking during pregnancy
Talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you develop a plan to quit smoking and can provide you with support.
Join a support group. Talking to other women who are trying to quit smoking can be helpful and supportive.
Use medication. There are medications that can help you quit smoking.
Find healthy ways to cope with stress. Stress can trigger the urge to smoke. Find healthy ways to cope with stress such as exercise relaxation techniques or spending time with loved ones.
Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and the health of your baby.