There is no doubt that smoking is injurious to health. More than 3600 carcinogenic chemicals in the cigarette smoke are bound to cause various cancers and chronic diseases and even stroke and death. You can find ample evidence about the dangers of smoking before you become pregnant, during a pregnancy and after childbirth. After childbirth, even minute smoke particles that get inhaled by a newborn can prove harmful to the baby’s health.

The women who smoke find it difficult to conceive naturally as compared to women who do not smoke. Smoking during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or a still birth. The baby may not live for long if the mother smokes.

Smoking mothers can have babies that are twice as likely to be born prematurely. The baby is also smaller and has lighter than average weight. The risk of congenital abnormalities and limb deformities increases drastically.

Children born to mothers who smoke, experience adverse effects on their physical and mental development. Since children of smoking parents become passive smokers, they are at an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases, pneumonia and ear problems.

Besides the risk to the children, smoking also hurts the parents. Those who smoke are at an increased risk of cancer of the lungs, pancreas, mouth, larynx, tongue and esophagus. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, tuberculosis, heart and circulatory system diseases and dental disorders are just a few of the very common diseases that smokers are at a much enhanced risk for than non-smokers.

Tags: Mother, Parents, Pregnancy, Smoking, Smoking During Pregnancy