Negative effects of smoking on babies like Low birth weight, Premature delivery, Stillbirth, Increased risk of Asthma or SIDS, Elevated risk of congenital heart defects and Lifelong effects on baby's brain are discussed in this presentation. Negative effects of smoking on mothers such as difficulty getting pregnant, Placental abruption, Placenta previa, Premature rupture of membranes and Ectopic pregnancy are also dealt in this presentation.

1. Smoking and
Pregnancy
Dr. P.Naina Mohamed
Pharmacologist

2. Introduction
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Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including
Nicotine, Carbon monoxide, Cyanide, Lead, and at least 60
Carcinogenic (cancer-causing ) compounds.
All these chemicals mix with mothers’ blodstream and passed to
babies to cause complications like o 20 to 30 percent of low-birth weight babies
o up to 14 percent of preterm deliveries and
o about 10 percent of all infant deaths
Maternal smoking has also been linked to asthma among infants and
young children.
The most effective way to protect the fetus is to quit smoking.
If a woman plans to conceive a child in the near future, quitting is
essential.
Quitting smoking within the first three or four months of pregnancy can
lower the chances premature baby or health problems related to
smoking.

3. Effects on babies
• Smoking during pregnancy may cause health
problems in babies, like –
• Low birth weight
• Premature birth (being born too early)
• Still birth
• Respiratory complications
• Congenital heart defects
• CNS effects
• Fetal death
• Infant death

4. Low birth weight, Premature
delivery & Stillbirth
Smoking during Pregnancy
Nicotine and carbon monoxide passed through mothers’ bloodstream
Nicotine constricts blood vessels and reduces oxygen supply
Red blood cells start to carry carbon monoxide instead of oxygen
Reduced oxygen supply to the babies
Baby's growth and development affected
Low birth weight, Premature delivery and Stillbirth

5. Respiratory complications
Smoking during Pregnancy
Baby's growth and development affected
Undersize baby
Underdeveloped body
Babies’ lungs may not be ready to work on their own
Delayed lung development
Increased risk of Asthma or SIDS

6. Congenital heart defects
Smoking during Pregnancy
(First Trimester)
Elevated risk of congenital heart defects
Right ventricular outflow tract obstructions & Atrial
septal defects

7. CNS effects
Smoking during Pregnancy
Lifelong effects on baby's brain
Learning disorders, Behavioral problems & relatively
low IQs

8. Effects on Mothers
• Smoking during pregnancy may cause health
problems in mothers, like o Difficulty getting pregnant
o Placental Abruption (Early seperation of Placenta
)
o Placenta previa (Placenta covers the cervix)
o Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (Early
breaking of water)
o Ectopic pregnancy (Pregnancy occurs outside
the womb)

9. Difficulty getting
pregnant
Smoking
Reduction of women’s fertility rates
Take longer to conceive or not being able to get
pregnant

10. Placental abruption
Smoking during Pregnancy
Placental abruption (Early seperation of placenta)
Bleeding
Dangerous to the mother and baby

11. Placenta previa
Smoking during Pregnancy
Placenta previa (Placenta covers the cervix)
Bleeding, C – section, Placenta accreta,
Hysterectomy, etc.

12. Premature rupture of
membranes (PROM)
Smoking during Pregnancy
Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (Early
breaking of water)
High risk of infection

13. Ectopic Pregnancy
Smoking during Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy (Pregnancy occurs outside womb)
Rupture with internal haemorrhage
Hypovolemic shock

14. Second hand smoke and
pregnancy
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The mother and the growing baby are at high risk of
developing lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema,
allergies, asthma, and other health problems, if the mother is
regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke is also called passive smoke or
environmental tobacco smoke and it is the combination of
smoke from a burning cigarette and smoke exhaled by a
smoker.
Secondhand smoke contains more harmful substances such
as tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine, and others ,.
Babies exposed to secondhand smoke may also develop
reduced lung capacity and are at higher risk for sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS).

15. Tips to get away from
Second hand smoke
 Make the home and car smoke-free.
 Ask the people not to smoke around you and your children.
 Make sure that your children’s day care center or school is smokefree.
 Choosing restaurants and other businesses that are smoke-free.
 Thank businesses for being smoke-free.
 Teach children to stay away from other people’s smoke.
 Avoid all smoke.
 Learn as much as you can by talking to your doctor, nurse, or health
care provider more about the dangers of other people’s smoke.

16. Tips to quit smoking
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Hide the matches, lighters, and ashtrays.
Designate the home a non-smoking area.
Ask people who smoke not to smoke around you.
Drink fewer caffeinated beverages; caffeine may stimulate the urge to smoke.
Avoid alcohol, as it may also increase the urge to smoke.
Change the habits connected with smoking. If you smoked while driving or
when feeling stressed, try other activities to replace smoking.
Keep mints or gum (preferably sugarless) on hand for those times when you
get the urge to smoke.
Stay active to keep the mind off smoking and help relieve tension.
Take a walk, exercise, read a book, or try a new a hobby.
Look for support from others. Join a support group or
smoking cessation program.
Do not go places where many people are smoking such as
bars or clubs, and smoking sections of restaurants.

17. Benefits of quitting
smoking
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When the mother stops smoking—
 The baby will get more oxygen, even after just one day of not smoking.
 There is less risk that the baby will be born too early.
 There is a better chance that the baby will come home from the hospital with
mother.
 Mother will be less likely to develop heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic
lung disease, and other smoke-related diseases.
 Mother will be more likely to live to know her grandchildren.
 Mother will have more energy and breathe more easily.
 Mother’s clothes, hair, and home will smell better.
 Mother’s food will taste better.
 Mother will have more money that she can spend on other things.
 Mother will feel good about what she has done for herself and her baby.
 Quitting Smoking Can Be Hard, But It Is One of the Best Ways a Woman Can
Protect Herself and Her Baby's Health.

19. References
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CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Obstetrics & Gynecology, 11e
Alan H. DeCherney, Lauren Nathan, Neri Laufer, Ashley S. Roman
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CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics, 21e
William W. Hay, Jr., Myron J. Levin, Robin R. Deterding, Mark J. Abzug, Judith M.
Sondheimer
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Behavioral Medicine: A Guide for Clinical Practice, 3e
Mitchell D. Feldman, John F. Christensen
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Harrison's Online
Featuring the complete contents of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine,
18e
Dan L. Longo, Anthony S. Fauci, Dennis L. Kasper, Stephen L. Hauser, J. Larry
Jameson, Joseph Loscalzo, Eds.

20. References
• http://www.cdc.gov/women/az/smoking.htm
• http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/
tobaccocancer/womenandsmoking/womenand-smoking-health-of-others
• http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/aboutsmoking/facts-figures/women-and-tobaccouse.html
• http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/89/3/10079905/en/