Smoking during pregnancy is the single most preventable cause of illness and death among mothers and infants.
The harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy have been well established.
One in five mothers smoke during pregnancy.
Smoking in pregnancy can lead to:
- 33% rise in miscarriage in the first 20 weeks
- Doubling of Preterm labour
- Placental abruption
- Placenta previa with increase n preterm labour
- Stillbirth
Infants born to women who smoke during pregnancy have
- Lower birth weight
- Increasd infant mortality (SIDS)
Low-birth-weight babies are at risk for
- Developmental problems
- Delayed speech
- Cerebral palsy
- Visual difficulties
- Hearing difficulties
- Learning disabilities
- Respiratory problems
- Deficits in intellectual ability
- Behavioural problems later on
Smoking during pregnancy carries a heavy financial burden.
Health care costs for problems caused by smoking during pregnancy is high.
Women who quit smoking before or early in pregnancy reduce the risk for several adverse reproductive outcomes.
Babies of expecting mothers who are exposed to passive (second hand ) smoking are at increased risk.
Infants who are exposed to smoking in households are at increased risks of suden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
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