Smoking During Pregnancy – 2019 Statistics & Risks

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"Cigarettes are bad to one's health." We always see and hear this line whether we're in the streets, at work, or even just lounging in our living room watching TV.

Everyone knows how smoking cigarettes is bad for one's health, especially pregnant women. In Wikipedia's statistics in 2016, there are more than 15 people who smoke cigarettes in every 100 U.S adult citizens ages 18 and older. In fact, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of death in the United States, declaring over 443,000 adults each year, or 1 out of 5 deaths every year. 

Even though everyone knows how dangerous cigarette smoking is, the amount of smokers is still rapidly increasing. Cigarette smoking causes a lot of negative effects on one's health and these effects are always reminded and advertised on TV ads, social media ads, and even on local and international newspapers.

In the United States, the number of pregnant women who constantly smoking during their pregnancy would now go up to a million. Little do pregnant women know, cigarette smoking while you're pregnant is three times more dangerous than smoking when you're not pregnant. Cigarette smoking will not only affect your system, but will also have a negative impact on your womb. To be more aware of this, this article will be showing you the consequences pregnant women face if they continue to smoke while they're pregnant. 

By the Numbers

When it comes to the age aspect, about 7.5 percent of pregnant women smoke during their pregnancy. In addition, 10.7 percent of pregnant women that are aged 20-24 years old smoke during their pregnancy, which holds the highest-ranked age group when it comes to pregnant smokers. Studies have shown that when women turn 25, they most likely tend to quit smoking especially as they get older and more health conscious.

When you take a look at the portions of each period of pregnancy, there are about 11.6 percent of pregnant mothers who smoke before pregnancy and only 5.7 percent of them continue to smoke after they give birth. One out of three women quit smoking after pregnancy. 

The Science

Aside from the statistics, pregnant women should know why smoking cigarettes is dangerous to their baby. They know it's bad for their health in general, but there are smoking effects that women are not knowledgeable about and these could have negative effects on their baby. Here are some harmful side-effects and chemicals that can be transferred to the baby if the pregnant mother smokes during pregnancy.

• Nicotine. This is carbon monoxide which is very bad to one's health, especially for a baby.

• Smoking can damage brain and lung development. This will cause a fetal brain development, or worse, a fetal death.

• Tar. Tar has butane and can be transferred to the baby's system.

• Reduced oxygen to the womb. Smoking reduces access to oxygen for the baby and will further complicate and cause setups for brain abnormalities.

• Cyanide. That's scary.

• Smoking can inflame your baby's airways and will cause diabetogenic effects on you and your baby.

• First-hand smoking during pregnancy is the most dangerous type of smoking since you directly absorb the cigarette's chemicals and toxic ingredients that will directly affect your baby.

• Second-hand smoking will cause low birth weight, and behavioral deficiencies in the baby. Worst case scenario, it will lead to a miscarriage.

• Third-hand smoking can cause respiratory illnesses to the baby when you give birth and a higher risk of SIDS. 

It's safe to say that smoking is really bad. However, if you can't quit for yourself, then quit for your children. They will thank you for it.