The Harmful Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy

Psychology 41

The Harmful Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy
One of the most important things an expecting mother can do for her unborn baby is to quit smoking. Research over the years has shown that smoking during pregnancy can have a significant amount of negative effects on the developing fetus. Cigarette tobacco contains approximately 2,500 chemicals that could harm an unborn baby. Nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide are the most harmful to the fetus. When an expecting mother inhales tobacco smoke from a cigarette, some of the chemicals are exhaled immediately and leave the body, but others stay in the body and make their way into the placenta. The unborn child, as well as inhaling the mainstream smoke that the mother breathes in from the cigarette, which stays in her body, it may also inhale any secondhand smoke that is in the air. Teratogens are substances and conditions that increase the risk of prenatal abnormalities. Other than genetic teratogens and pollutants, tobacco is the one substance that causes a significant amount of harm to the developing fetus.
There are many harmful effects that can cause damage to the developing fetus if the mother is smoking during pregnancy. Smoking has been linked to various pregnancy complications. “It is estimated that approximately 25% of American women smoke during their reproductive years. Many women who smoke prior to pregnancy continue to smoke during and after their pregnancies (“Pregnancy and Smoking”).” O...

The Harmful Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy

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