Effects Of Secondhand Smoke On Fetus

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It is a well-known fact that smoking is injurious to health. But, one thing that requires more importance is that passive smoking also has the same effect on a person exposed to the toxic materials of tobacco. It is the same in the case of pregnant women as well.

Continuous exposure to passive smoke by pregnant women will directly affect the normal growth and development of the foetus. A woman can get exposed to passive smoking in many situations. It can be from her own parents, partner or from her workplace.

According to a new study in the medical journal Pediatrics, just being around other smokers can increase the risk of harming your unborn baby. There are studies that proves the effects of secondhand smoke on fetus where certain genetic mutations in babies are linked to tobacco- smoke exposure.

The risk of secondhand smoking is almost the same as that of a smoking mother. It is very important to keep your partner also aware of the chances of birth defects that may occur to the baby.

According to Dr. Jonathan Winickoff, Harvard Medical School, it is important for both the mother and father to stay away from smoking during the preconception period and during the pregnancy.

The more the exposure to secondhand smoking by pregnant women, the more serious birth defects your baby may face. So, Boldsky tells you some of the common problems or effects of secondhand smoking on fetus.

Deformities: Exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy will causes genetic damage in your developing fetus. Passive smoking will affect pregnant women by increasing the chances of major deformities of the feet, testes, or not have a brain.

Spontaneous Abortion: Continuous exposure to secondhand smoking may end up in spontaneous abortion of the fetus. It may cause genetic mutations in the fetus. This may affect the growth and development of the fetus, resulting in spontaneous abortion.

Birth Defects: Birth defects are one of the common health effects of secondhand smoking during pregnancy. Exposure to the toxic materials in the smoke will induce mutations. These mutations are likely to have lifelong impact in the form of serious and irreversible birth defects.

Stillbirth: Exposure to passive smoke by pregnant women increases the chances of having a stillbirth by 23 percent. Effects of secondhand smoking will adversely affect the normal growth and development of the fetus and this may ultimately result in stillbirth.

Low Birth Weight: A non-smoking pregnant women has the chance to give birth to a baby with low birth weight, if she was exposed to continuous secondhand smoking during her pregnancy period. This causes fetal hypoxia and vasoconstriction decreasing maternal blood supply to the placenta.

Defective Internal Organs: A pregnant woman who is exposed to passive smoking will have a less functioning placenta. Nicotine will cross the placenta and decreases the blood flow to the fetus. This will affect the fetal cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system and central nervous system.

Neurological Problems: If you are experiencing secondhand smoking during your pregnancy, chances are more for your unborn baby to have neurological abnormalities. Studies show that babies, who had intrauterine exposure to cigarette smoke, have abnormal neuro-behavioural development.

Respiratory Problems: Effects on the fetus of mothers who had exposure to secondhand smoking is at a risk of having abnormal respiratory development. They will have breathing difficulty after birth and will be prone to develop asthma in the future.

Premature Birth: One of the most common problems that secondhand smoking brings is the premature birth of the fetus. This will affect the normal development of the baby creating further health complications in the future