Pregnancy and Smoking
• Facts every female, regardless of age, should know!

Many women wonder if tobacco use before, during, or after pregnancy will harm babies. The truth is tobacco affects everyone differently, including your baby. One baby may not be harmed, while some babies may be harmed in many ways by tobacco use. The BEST practice is to quit smoking now! By quitting NOW you won't ever worry whether tobacco use hurt your baby!

Women who smoke while they are pregnant put themselves and their babies at risk for delivery complications, birth defects, and diseases.

• As reported by the American Lung Association, smokers inhale nicotine and carbon monoxide, which reach the baby through the placenta and prevent the fetus from getting the nutrients and oxygen needed to grow. (www.lungusa.org)
• Smoking early in pregnancy appears to increase a women's risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. (http://www.modimes.org/)
 • Smoking may also increase a women's risk of miscarriage    (www.modimes.org)

Effects on babies:
• Smoking nearly doubles a woman's risk of having a low-birth weight baby. Low birth weight babies, who weigh less than 5 ½ pounds at birth, face an increased risk of serious health problems during the newborn period, chronic disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning problems) and even death. (http://www.modimes.org/)
• Smoking during pregnancy is estimated to account for 20-30% of low -birth weight babies, up to 14% preterm deliveries, and some 10 % of all infant deaths. (http://www.lungusa.org/)
• Breast milk often contains whatever is in the woman's body. If a woman smokes, the baby ingests the nicotine in her breast milk. (http://www.lungusa.org/)
• Babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are three times as likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as babies of non-smokers. (http://www.modimes.org/)
• Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy also may be at increased risk of learning and behavioral problems, including impulsive behavior, conduct disorders, and attention problems. (http://www.modimes.org/)

Secondhand Smoke:

• Regular exposure to secondhand smoke may reduce fetal growth and, therefore, increase a woman's chances of having a low-birth weight baby. (http://www.modimes.org/)
• Children who are exposed to cigarette smoke before birth also may be at increased risk of lasting problems, including asthma and autism. (http://www.modimes.org/)
• Babies who are exposed to their parents' cigarette smoke after birth also may face and increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). (http://www.modimes.org/)
• Babies who are exposed to smoke suffer from more respiratory illnesses and ear infections than other babies. (http://www.modimes.org/)

Protecting baby and you!

• If you or your partner smoke - QUIT NOW!
• Pledge to keep your HOME and VEHICLE Smoke-free!
• Stay away from secondhand smoke.
• Ask others not to smoke around you or your family.

For more information please contact:
Rural Three for Tobacco Free Communities 1-866-3RURAL3
The New York State Smokers Quitline 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487)
The American Lung Association http://www.lungusa.org/
The American Cancer Society http://www.acs.org/
March of Dimes http://www.modimes.org/

Your baby receives nicotine, carbon monoxide and other chemicals from your blood when you smoke. These chemicals may cause low birth weight, miscarriages, early delivery, stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) and a variety of other health problems for you and your baby.

Smoking will cause the baby to be smaller. That means it will be an easier delivery.

A smaller baby is harder to deliver because it is not strong enough to help you out. It will also be harder once the baby is born, because it will be less healthy, cry more often, and need more of your attention.

If I smoke, I won't gain too much weight while I'm pregnant.

You need to eat well while you are pregnant, and you will lose the weight naturally during the first few months after birth. Eating properly and getting regular physical activity can help you lose the weight.

If I quit smoking it will be too stressful. Is it better for the baby if I keep smoking?

Smoking is far more harmful for both you and your baby than the stress of trying to quit.

If I smoke "light" cigarettes that are low in nicotine and tar, then I don't do as much damage to myself and my baby.

There is no such thing as a "light" cigarette. Studies show that people can take in just as much nicotine and tar from light cigarettes as regular ones. They tend to compensate by smoking more often, inhaling deeper and longer and blocking vent holes.

My friend smoked while she was pregnant, and her children are fine.

Tobacco smoke may have affected their health in ways that you aren't aware of. Sometimes the effects of smoking don't show up in obvious ways, or right away. Your child may be even healthier and better tempered if you don't smoke.

It will be easier to quit smoking after the baby is born.

Your life may be stressful after the baby is born. Both you and the baby will be healthier if you qu