Pregnancy And Baby Care Articles During Pregnancy

...a result, your baby receives less amounts of oxygen. Consequently, the placenta is unable to receive ample nutrition because of the lack of oxygen supply. Thus, your baby does not obtain proper nutrition while in the womb. When this happens, your body starts considering that it is unable to support the pregnancy; this, in turn, can lead to a possible miscarriage or preterm labor. When the placenta does not receive the required amount of oxygen, it spreads inside the uterus in an attempt to seek more oxygen. This can lead to a condition known as placental abruption. It could also lead to placenta previa, wherein the placenta gets thinner and detaches itself from the fetus.

As a result of this nutritional deprivation, your baby may be born with a low birth weight and may have several health issues, including poor lung functioning. Babies born of mothers who smoke while they are pregnant may be born with SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), wherein the babies suffer from breathing lapses because they were exposed to second hand smoke while they were in the womb. Further, such babies also suffer from birth defects like a cleft palate or a cleft lip.

Quitting smoking during pregnancy

It is understood that smoking is an addiction, and in order to quit smoking, you need to have lot of will power. The moment you start planning for a baby make sure you try to quit smoking. Gradually, bring down the number of cigarettes you smoke. Once you manage to do that, mark a quit day and slowly stop smoking altogether.

Once you have quit smoking make sure that you stay away from people and places where smoking is practiced. Even if you are tempted to smoke, divert your attention by indulging in something that you love doing.

There may be several withdrawal symptoms; however, you need to cope with them for your baby's better health. Moreover, once you quit, it is best to not smoke even after pregnancy. Consult your doctor for further guidance to help you with the withdrawal phase.

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