What are the risks of smoking while your pregnant, especially if you didnt know till you were 4 months ?

Answer 1

well I assume you have quit!!!
Low birth weight, birth defects, lung problems in your child! Not to mention smoking can kill YOU!
I would say learn a lesson from this experience! Quit now and never touch them again! It's so much better for you in the long run not to mention your baby. Second hand smoke is much more dangerous than first hand! Just think about your baby, give it the best possible start you can!
Congrats and Good Luck!

Answer 2

i'm 37 weeks pregnant and in my anti natal classes they told us that some of the side effects of smoking during pregnancy were low birth weight, higher risk of late stage miscarriage, higher rate of adhd when the child is older, smaller heads, higher risk of lung problems such as asthma, higher risk of sids. if you are still smoking now it would be a good idea to contact the quit help line asap they are equipped to deal with pregnant ladies trying to quit. not only will your baby thank you for quitting but so will your own body! good luck with the pregnancy!!!

Answer 3

• Children whose mothers smoked while pregnant were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop asthma early in life than children whose mothers did not smoke while pregnant.

“We suspect that when a pregnant woman smokes, the tobacco might affect her fetus’ DNA in the mitochondria, and if it is a girl, her future reproductive cells as well,” Gilliland said. “We speculate that the damage that occurs affects the child’s immune system and increases her susceptibility to asthma, which is then passed down to her children.”

“These findings are consistent with previous studies showing that in utero exposure to maternal smoking increases asthma risk and adversely affects postnatal lung function,” said Kenneth Olden, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Researchers suggest that when a pregnant woman smokes, chemicals from the tobacco may biologically damage her fetus. They hypothesize that smoke can affect the child in two ways: First, if the child is a girl, her eggs may be affected, which will in turn put her future children at risk; and second, the fetus’ mitochondria may be damaged through subtle changes in which genes are turned on or off – changes that may be transmitted through the maternal line as well.

The scientists speculate that these alterations decrease immune function and reduce the body’s ability to rid itself of toxins, thereby increasing their risk of asthma in smokers’ children and grandchildren. They also note that further studies are needed to confirm their results and investigate the issue more deeply.

Children of Smokers Blood Vessels Damaged: To measure oxidation injury, the Austrian researchers examined levels of a biological compound called 8-epi-PGF2alpha in the blood and urine of 158 children (71 boys, 87 girls) ages 3 to 15. The compound is formed when free radicals attack arachidonic acid, a chemical whose normal function includes blood vessel dilation, blood clot prevention and inflammation reaction. The children of smokers had a 50% increase.
Smokers take in poisons such as nicotine and carbon monoxide (the same gas that comes out of a car's exhaust pipe). These poisons get into the placenta, which is the tissue that connects the mother and the baby before it is born. These poisons keep the unborn baby from getting the food and oxygen needed to grow. As a result babies of smokers are often smaller.
underweight babies are "often sick with lots of health problems. Smaller babies are more likely to need special care and stay longer in the hospital. Some may die either at birth or within the first year." According to the March of Dimes, other problems associated with smoking during pregnancy include miscarriages, still births, and premature birth
Some of the effects of smoking while pregnant may not be apparent at birth, but are seen as the child starts to develop. Smoking during pregnancy may be a cause of sudden infant death syndrome (crib death), a condition in which apparently healthy babies die suddenly while sleeping
Also children may have learning difficulties and behavioral
problems.
Stop smoking now!

Answer 4

the major risk in smoking is that he leads to constricted blood flow and oxygen to the fetus.
This can cause a multitude of problems including prematurity.. I would consult your doctor and advise him that you smoked until your were 4 months so the can monitor you and provide the answers you need.


STOP SMOKING NOW>

Answer 5

i am by no means advocating smoking, but i did with my youngest child. i tried real hard to quit, but i was old, and very, very stressed. my doctor knew i smoked. she told me to try to cut back because some women miscarried from stress. she was my biggest baby...9# 10oz, and very healthy. never had any respiratory problems. yes, i do feel guilty about it, never in a million years did i plan on having a baby at age 36. she was full term, actually, i had to get induced.

Answer 6

I just found out i am pregnant and was a social smoker - dont beat your self up about what has happened just try to be good from now on.

Answer 7

the risk are the following low birth weight, breathing problems when they are older.

Answer 8

obviously the baby might DIE, or become very sick, anyways it's bad to smoke in the first place.

Answer 9

It can cause all kinds of problems. Quit Now!http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33573#questions

Answer 10

sadly i dont know, but my mom smoked cigs and weedand drank through her pregnancy and i turned out fine