| Despite all the warnings to the | | | | If a baby manages to survive until |
| contrary, the statistics regarding | | | | birth, the health problems associated |
| teenage smoking continues to rise. | | | | with cigarette smoking are only |
| Feeling invincible, a common | | | | beginning. Because the carcinogens of |
| misconception of the age group, smoking | | | | cigarettes have replaced the appropriate |
| seems like an excellent means of | | | | levels of oxygen and nutrients, smoking |
| achieving popularity, feeling grown up, | | | | is comparable to skipping feedings after |
| and rebellingagainst adults. | | | | birth. Thus, the low birth weight. |
| Like Superman, the same rules do not | | | | Think about it. No loving parent will |
| seem to apply to high school and junior | | | | allow an infant to go hungry. |
| high age individuals. Kids think, | | | | Nevertheless, smoking during pregancy |
| unlike everyone else on the planet, they | | | | essentially starves a growing fetus. |
| can quit any time. By the time | | | | Unfortunately, low birth weight babies |
| teenagers understand the addictive | | | | cannot simply be fattened up after |
| nature of cigarettes, the damage has | | | | birth. Subjected to the same poisons a |
| been done, and ceasation is extremely | | | | mother inhales during pregnancy, a |
| difficult. | | | | smoker's baby's weight can also be an |
| Although smokers agree the long-term | | | | outward sing of grave inward health |
| effects of inhaling up to 1000 different | | | | problems. |
| chemical toxins is responsible for | | | | For example, studies have shown babies |
| deadly diseases like heart attacks, | | | | of smokers are much more likely to |
| emphysema, and cancer- the addiction | | | | succumb to sudden infant death syndrome. |
| rules. Sadly, when smokers choose to | | | | Thus, the mortality of an infant, |
| have a baby, the unborn child has no | | | | before age one, increases due toexposure |
| choice but to become a smoker as well. | | | | from the harmful affects of cigarette |
| Smoking before pregnancy can affect | | | | smoke. |
| fertility. After conception, the baby is | | | | Also, because lung development has been |
| essential a smoker, increasing the odds | | | | compromised during pregnancy, a smoker's |
| of stillbirths and miscarriages. A | | | | child is likely to suffer more colds and |
| smoker's baby is likely to be a low | | | | inner ear infections. Additionally, a |
| birth-weight, ahd have significant | | | | baby is prone to illnesses such as |
| health problems long after birth. Yet, | | | | pneumonia and bronchitis, requiring |
| smoking mothers have the option to quit, | | | | hospitalization. |
| before the chemicals can do irrepairable | | | | Even as a baby growns into toddlerhood |
| damage. | | | | and beyond, the affects of being a |
| Future mothers and fathers may have | | | | smoking fetus can continue plaguing the |
| greater difficulty starting a family in | | | | child. Sadly, children exposed to |
| the first place. For male smokers, | | | | smoking during pregancy have increased |
| sperm count is lower, the sperm may be | | | | chances of suffering from asthma and |
| misshapen, and motility is restricted by | | | | even cancer. |
| reduced semen. | | | | Asthma alone can be pretty scary. More |
| For females, smoking affects the release | | | | than a simple cough or cold, asthma |
| of an egg through the fallopian tubes to | | | | inflames the airways. As the bronchila |
| the womb. Also, IVF is less likely to | | | | tubes swell, a baby has greater |
| succeed. Although the egg is | | | | difficulty breathing. Without immediate |
| successfully fertilized in a test tube, | | | | medical attention, a baby with asthma |
| the embryo will have difficulty | | | | can perish. |
| attaching to the womb. | | | | As if asthma is not bad enough, babies |
| Even if the mother manages to conceive, | | | | exposed to cancer-causing polutants in |
| she is still endangering the life of her | | | | the womb have and increased probability |
| unborn child, because the baby has no | | | | of sufferinglife-threatening cancers in |
| option but to smoke as well. Why? | | | | childhood: Numerous studies have |
| Anything the mother ingest is | | | | investigated the incidence of childhood |
| transferred to her baby via the | | | | cancer in the children of women who |
| placenta, including the 1000 toxic | | | | smoked during pregnancy. An increased |
| chemicals found in cigarettes. | | | | risk for all cancers is found as well as |
| In addition, the carbon monoxide, the | | | | an association of acute lymphocytic |
| same toxic emissions from a car's | | | | leukemia and lymphoma with maternal |
| tailpipe, forms in the bloodstream, | | | | smoking has been confirmed in several |
| reducing the flow of oxygen to both | | | | studies. |
| mother and baby. Therefore, the baby is | | | | Thankfully, smoking mothers can |
| deprived of the appropriate amount of | | | | drastically reduce the odds of a |
| oxygen and nutrients to promote proper | | | | precious baby suffering from severe |
| growth and development. | | | | health problems and dastardly diseases. |
| The mother's choice to smoke increases | | | | Quit smoking now! Give a baby the best |
| the odds of stillbirths and | | | | chance at a healthy life, and a healthy |
| miscarriages. According to Dr. Krisa | | | | mother. |
| Van Meurs of Stanford University School | | | | Often, the willpower to quit is aided by |
| of Medicine, there is a 33% increase in | | | | pregnancy. If morning sickness does not |
| the chances of miscarriage before the | | | | make cigarettes taste disgusting, the |
| 28th week. Also, because of restricted | | | | love for a baby is a great motivator. |
| blood flow, doctors have found a greater | | | | Whether a mother quits smoking before |
| incidence of spontaneous abortions among | | | | conception or during the pregnancy, |
| smokers. | | | | there is no time like the present. |