How does smoking affect the health of the fetus?

Smoking is one of the harmful habits that negatively affects human health, and its risk increases in particular in pregnant women. Smoking not only hurts the mother, but also affects the health and growth of the fetus. With each cigarette ignited, hundreds of toxic chemicals enter the body, including nicotine and carbon oxide, which makes the pregnancy more vulnerable to serious complications.

Smoking damage to a pregnant woman

Increased risk of miscarriage: women smokers are more likely to miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy due to the affected endometrium and blood flow to the placenta.

Complications during pregnancy and childbirth:

High blood pressure.

Bleeding during pregnancy.

Early birth.

The need for cesarean delivery due to health problems.

Effect on the placenta:

Problems with the growth of the placenta or its separation from the uterine wall, which poses a threat to the life of the mother and the fetus together.

Smoking damage to the fetus

Lack of weight at birth: nicotine and carbon oxide reduce the amount of oxygen and food that reaches the fetus, which hinders its natural growth.

Congenital deformities: especially in the heart, lungs, or nervous system.

SIDS: The risk of sudden death in newborns increases if the mother was smoked during pregnancy or the child is subjected to passive smoking after birth.

Classical and learning problems later: Studies indicate that smoking mothers may have problems with focus or hyperactivity in childhood.