Smoking during pregnancy

Hello everyone! I am a girl and I smoke too many cigarettes per day. I am not thinking of getting pregnant by now but you see I don’t think there is a way I can’t quit smoking during pregnancy. I just think I can’t. I’ve been told if you smoke during pregnancy, your baby’s health is seriously compromised. I believe if I stop smoking, I will feel strongly jittery and nervous. What should I do?

Hello Jennifer,

As you say, smoking while pregnant is detrimental both for the fetus and obviously for the mother. Firstly, smoking during pregnancy can lead your baby to have withdrawal symptoms, low birth weight, or it may even lead to preterm birth. In addition, some studies suggest that it is not just detrimental for your children but also for future grandchildren. I recommend you to read the following post: Effects of Smoking during Pregnancy.

Since you are not planning to get pregnant now, it is the ideal moment for resorting to an specialist who will help you quitting smoking. The truth is that is is the most prudent option if you wish to become pregnant. Moreover, it will be highly beneficial for you as well.

Best wishes!

I actually gave up just before my embryo transfer and I’m still off it, I guess it’s just wheelpower!!!!

Smoking during pregnancy is bad for you and your baby. Quitting smoking, even if you’re already pregnant, can make a big difference in your baby’s life. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and can cause serious health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, gum disease and eye diseases that can lead to blindness.
Preterm labor. This is labor that starts too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm labor can lead to premature birth.
Ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg implants itself outside of the uterus (womb) and begins to grow. An ectopic pregnancy cannot result in the birth of a baby. It can cause serious, dangerous problems for the pregnant woman.
Problems with the placenta, like placental abruption and placenta previa. The placenta grows in your uterus (womb) and supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. Placental abruption is a serious condition in which the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before birth. Placenta previa is when the placenta lies very low in the uterus and covers all or part of the cervix. The cervix is the opening to the uterus that sits at the top of the vagina.

It is strongly advised against. Unless you want baby to be born with defects.