Secondhand smoking and pregnancy
All women are advised
to stop smoking when they become pregnant; however, research has shown that
smoking cessation alone is not enough to eliminate the risks associated with
exposure to cigarettes. Many women are exposed to second-hand smoke from
friends and family or to cigarette residue. Passive smoking during pregnancy
can have adverse health effects on you and your baby.
Secondhand smoking and pregnancy
Secondhand smoke is
characterized as a product released into the environment with each exhalation
of a smoker. It can also result from the cessation of smoking products
containing tobacco. There are about 4,000 chemicals present in secondhand
smoke, many of which have been found to be linked to cancer. If you are exposed
to secondhand smoke during pregnancy, you and your baby are at risk.
Some of the health
problems associated with exposure to secondhand smoke include miscarriage, low
birth weight, early labor, learning or behavioral problems with your baby, and
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a disorder
in which an infant dies unexpectedly in its sleep. This condition is somewhat
of a mystery because autopsies and medical examinations cannot determine the
cause of death, and the babies seem healthy before they die.
To reduce the risks
associated with cigarettes and cigars, it is best to avoid smoking and smoking
altogether.
Third-hand smoking and pregnancy
Pregnant women may be
exposed to this type of smoke without even knowing it. Third hand tobacco smoke
is cigarette residue on furniture, carpets, paint, etc. Third hand tobacco
smoke can linger for months or years. If the room smells of smoke, even if no
one is smoking at the moment, it is likely that there is tobacco residue in the
room.
Toxins can enter the
bloodstream when you touch or breathe in residue. When toxins enter your
bloodstream, they are passed on to your baby. One study found that third-hand
tobacco smoke residues were detrimental to intrauterine lung development. This can
cause breathing problems later in life.
If you and your
partner are trying to conceive, are pregnant, or have recently had a baby, it's
best to minimize the amount of tobacco smoke in your home. You should quit
smoking completely if you are trying to get pregnant.
Make sure your
partner smokes outside and doesn't enter the house in the outerwear they smoked
in. For example, suggest that your partner wear a coat or sweatshirt when you
smoke and take it off before going inside. Also, after exposure to cigarettes,
it's important that you and your partner wash your hands before touching your
baby.
What to do after the birth of a child?
It is important that
your baby is not exposed to secondhand smoke, even after birth. Infants exposed
to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop sudden infant death syndrome. In
addition, children exposed to secondhand smoke experience negative effects on
their immune systems.
They are more likely to get ear infections, colds, respiratory problems, and dental problems. Second-hand smoke is likely to be just as harmful to your child as second-hand smoke, so it's important to keep your child away from places containing third-party smoke residue.