Many would argue that childbirth is a beautiful and miraculous event, however the process of the pregnancy is a very fragile time in the mother's life. During this time most everyone would agree that the mother should attempt to do everything that is possible to take care of her body. There are some habits, however, that an extremely difficult to break, even during a pregnancy. The practice of smoking tobacco is one of those habits. Many doctors would argue that smoking is never healthy for the body especially during a pregnancy. For years institutions have sought to produce statistical data to uncover the effects of smoking during a pregnancy. Even with the changing times, statistical studies on this topic, continue to produce the same conclusions. In 1965, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Palo Alto Medical Clinic in California, published a study of the pregnancy data of 5,659 women, who received care at their facilities from 1952 to 1958 (Downing) . This study recorded the end results of each pregnancy for both smokers, of which there were 2,630, and non-smokers, of which there were 3,029 (Downing). This study found mixed results within different types of pregnancy complications. The study found that there were 88 premature births in smokers, compared to 66 in non-smokers (Downing). At the same time there were more of both abortions and post-natal deaths in non-smokers than in smokers. ‘Chart 1-A’ illustrates the comparison of the pregnancies of both the
Smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy could lead to the placenta not developing fully. As the placenta carries oxygen and blood to the foetus this may impair growth and link to low birth weights. Babies born to smoking mothers are 30% more likely to have a premature baby which could lead to respiratory distress, problems feeding and they could have difficulty regulating their body temperature. Babies undergo withdrawal like systems and tend to be more jittery and harder to settle. Babies being brought up in a smoking household are at increased risk of cot death and may go on to develop asthma during childhood.
Pathophysiology: Tobacco smoke contains 1000 different compounds including carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, carcinogens. The two main compounds that cause harmful effects on a developing fetus is nicotine and carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide has a higher affinity than oxygen for hemoglobin. Which when Carbon monoxide and hemoglobin combine they form boxy hemoglobin which is unable to carry oxygen, which leads to decreased oxygen delivery to the fetus and fetal hypoxia. Nicotine has cardiovascular and central nervous system effects. Nicotine is known to cross the placental barrier causing levels in the amniotic fluid and fetus 15% higher than the mother. The effects of cigarettes can remain with the fetus the rest of their lives. Ranging from
Overall, of 103830 records 82534 mothers’ data were analyzed that were obtained from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Certificate of Live Birth. Descriptive results of maternal and birth characteristics are shown in Table 1. Approximately, 57% of the mothers were white, 33% black, 7% Asian, and 3.6% other ethnicities, respectively. 29% of the maternal age at delivery was between 20-24 years old, 22% was between 25-29 years old, 19% was between 30-34 years old, 14% was between 19 years and younger, 11% was between 35-39 years old, and 4% was between 40 years and older, respectively. The number of LBW babies (< 2500 g) among mothers who smoked and non-smoked were 1359 (1.6%) and 81144 (98.3%), respectively. 16 % of mothers who smoked (n=5544) gave low birth weight babies. 5.4% of low birth weight babies had mothers smoked between 10-14 cigarettes per day.
In reviewing the data, as I was not totally shocked, but found it to be of interest that maternal smoking remains an issue. The county had a 37.6% rate of women who smoked during pregnancy. Prenatal care seemed to be above average in the county with a percentage of 62% reporting “adequacy in prenatal care” (Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, 2008). A large amount of resources and time has been implemented in reducing overall smoking rates in KY. Additionally, prenatal care should entail smoking cessation during
For our other target audience of pregnant women, we dedicated two slides to smoking during pregnancy and the repercussions of smoking around their new young baby. We gave them information such as a low birth weight, smaller organs, likelihood of cot death and an increased risk of miscarriage. After they have had their baby, we gave them other information. This information included things such as meningitis, hearing loss, cot death, asthma and breathing problems. As well as this, we also wanted to emphasise the mothers health and how it would effect them.
The NIOSH study reveals that working women’s i.e., reproductive age involved in smoking has adverse effects on their pregnancy and the health of their infant. The evaluation of data of 2009-2013 from the National Health Interview Survey discovered there were 17% of working women who were smokers at their reproductive age and 76% were daily smokers. Further, the study shows the women working in certain industries and businesses have higher smoking
Smoking while pregnant can cause a various of issues to the fetus and to the child while they are in their young ages. It can cause the child to be born 162-226 grams. This weight is lighter than a baby whose mother did not smoke. For example, while the baby is in the womb, it will slow the development of the baby’s organs, due to the toxins entering the baby’s bloodstream (Holmes ?). Another way it can harm the baby while he/she is still in the womb is by causing the baby to be stillborn (not cited yet). This sympathetic damage would have lasting impact on the mother psychologically. This could be especially painful when she has done everything right to protect her unborn
Quitting smoking before becoming pregnant is the ideal situation. For women that are already pregnant quitting early can still give your baby a chance of healthy development. Some mothers and adults may think it is ok to start smoking after the baby is born, but secondhand smoke is still harmful to the baby’s health. Intervention programs start with your primary care physician and the nursing staff. They screen for tobacco usage in the adult’s home where the baby with life or currently living. Will give brief advice on how to stop smoking, provide counseling referrals for behavioral interventions. Also, pharmaceutical intervention in non-pregnant adults living in the same household, to reduce the risk of second-hand smoke exposer. Community
More then 15% of women smoking while pregnant. Babies who's mothers smoke have more then 20% higher chance of being born with cleft lip, cleft palates, shortened or missing limbs, and abnormally shaped heads compared to babies born to nonsmoking mothers. Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy are even more likely to have learning disorders and behavioral problems.
Pregnancy is a joyful time for most families because that means the mother is bringing a new member into the world who will be welcomed into the family. A mother holding her newborn healthy baby in her arms for the first time makes her feel a sense of pride. This is because she has followed all of her doctor’s instructions and listened to his advice on how to keep herself healthy, and how to deliver a healthy baby after her nine months are up. But what if the new mom to be did not listen to the doctor’s advice? What if she decided to smoke during her pregnancy because she assumed it would not hurt the baby? What health problems or birth defects would the baby be challenged with when it was born? Women who smoke during their pregnancies on
Smoking and being pregnant are not suitable and any woman in this condition should stop smoking right away. What's the safest way to do this though? Anyone who smokes understands how nerve-racking stopping this habit can be and high stress levels are also not great for the mom or unborn baby. Some stop smoking products should not be used during pregnancy because they contain nicotine or other ingredients which are not beneficial for the fetus.
Some of the common things that are seen happening to babies when the mother smokes is babies born prematurely, too small or dying off before they are even born at all. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including things like cyanide, lead, and at least 60 cancer-inducing compounds (Chris Woolston). When the baby’s only source of oxygen and nutrients is via your bloodstream, they will be consuming this toxic brew from the cigarettes because it goes no other place than the very bloodstream your unborn child feeds and breathes from. Out of those 4,000-plus compounds there are two in particular that are especially dangerous to your baby: nicotine and carbon monoxide. These toxins account for just about every smoking-related complication in pregnant. (Ob-gyn James
Smoking cigarettes has been known for several years to be harmful to the individuals who choose to smoke. Putting tar into your lungs, causing cancer, heart disease and stroke are just a few reasons many Americans choose not to smoke. However, seventeen percent of people in the United States are smokers. With that seventeen percent, ten percent of women smoke during pregnancy. Not smoking during pregnancy should be a no-brainer but women still do it. Smoking during pregnancy has been known to cause retardation, low birth weight, premature birth, and infant mortality. New studies are showing that smoking is now causing chromosomal
Smoking during pregnancy is associated with many adverse outcomes for children as well as negative consequences for child health and development. Maternal smoking late in pregnancy reduces birth weight and size. Babies that are born to habitual smokers "weigh, on average, about 9 oz. less, and are shorter both at birth and in the years to come" (Berger 115). Nicotine is the addictive ingredient in cigarettes and breaking that habit can be nearly impossible for some women. What is the acceptable way for her to stop smoking? It's my opinion a woman needs to gather all of the information she can and then discuss her options
Smoking starts causing harm, even to the unborn. A mother is a baby`s only form of life support through the umbilical cord. So,