Pregnancy in humans is a very risky and delicate process. First, the body has to make sure implantation of the fertilized egg is successful and then, through the placenta, the new life growing inside the belly takes all the nutrients and oxygen it needs to grow correctly and directly from the bloodstream of the mother. The fetus is capable of taking all the necessary to survive and even a little bit more. After all, the survival of the species relies on our ability to procreate and pass our genes onto the next generation.
Care During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the mother has to be sure to consume all the necessary nutrients and vitamins for herself and the baby. A double dose of almost everything is needed. If the mother does not supply her body with the right amount, the baby will take her portion too, so as to be sure it is well fed and will survive.
This is why the diet and activities of women during pregnancy are so specific. A high intake of calcium, iron, folic acid and more is always on top of the list. There are also certain activities to be followed, such as stretching exercises and mild walking. Swimming is also recommended just by a period because once the baby gets too big, many physical activities will get too uncomfortable to be carried out.
Why Smoking During Pregnancy Is Bad
One of the first things to be banned is smoking. Many women find themselves quitting this terrible habit because they found out they were pregnant. Other women on the contrary, never stop smoking. Maybe the addiction was too strong to overcome, or maybe they didn’t have the right support and information to make a better choice for them and their babies.
Smoking is one of the main causes of deaths all over the world. It is directly related to lung cancer and other three types of cancer. The first problem with smoking is that from the combustion of the tobacco leaves and other additives contained in cigarettes a toxic substance called tart is produced. This substance adheres to the lungs of the smoker and causes terrible damage.
For people with severe smoking addiction the use of alternatives, such as e-cigarettes and tobacco e-liquid, represent a way to avoid the negative side effects and to escape addiction. Just like nicotine patches, e-cigarettes alleviate the abstinence symptoms, and it prevents people from going back to smoking, which is known as relapse.
Long Term Side Effects Of Smoking During Pregnancy
- It is also noteworthy to mention the side effects that smoking can have on the baby of a pregnant woman that decides not to stop smoking.
- The first consequence is the most shocking one: death. Many babies die because they were born before their right time. This is due to the habit of smoking of the mother. Some other babies are born, but because of their low weight and preterm delivery they do not make it and die in the hospital.
- The health of the child can also be affected long term. He or she can develop more colds, lung problems and learning disabilities that can only be diagnosed through time. All of these problems could have been avoided if the mother had stopped smoking during her pregnancy.
- Learning disabilities in children are due, in this case, to the low levels of oxygen that were available to the fetus during its development inside the womb of the mother. The baby takes all the oxygen it needs directly from the blood stream of the mother and therefore if the blood is low on oxygen that is what the fetus is going to get. Nicotine also stimulates the fetal heart rate and can severely affect its development.
- Second-hand smoke is also very harmful during pregnancy. The non-smoker is receiving the worst part of the cigarette because it contains more harmful elements that the one being inhaled. Even if the mother does not smoke, being around smokers can also cause her baby to be born with low weight and before term. The best option for the future mom is to quit smoking and also to be sure not to be surrounded by other smokers.