I know this is a touchy subject for some people. But I'm really concerned now for me, my unborn baby, and my toddler. I went to the dr. yesterday for a routine ultrasound and he asked me if I smoked. I said, "no. why?" He said because I had white spots on my placenta showing that I had been inhaling smoke. I told him that I am around secondhand smoke every other weekend or so. He said, "that will do it" Then he told me that even when I don't smoke and I'm around someone that's smoking, it's like I'm lighting up myself. He also told me that my baby is more likely to have a low birth weight, under developed lungs, and more of a chance of SIDS than if I had smoked myself.
I'm so scared that something is going to be wrong with my baby. I usually go to visit my mom every other weekend. She smokes. From now on and after I have the baby, I don't want to be around the smoke and I don't want my kids to be. I don't want to hurt her feelings but I've got to tell her somehow. How can I do this?
2007-08-22 03:13:47 · 29 answers · asked by ? 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Tell her not to smoke around you anymore. Period. Here is some interesting information I found about white spots on the placenta-I wouldn't be too concerned, but secondhand smoke is bad for you.
Ultrasound findings
Placental grade--The placenta can be seen by ultrasound. Sometimes it will appear to have tiny white flecks in it. These spots are calcifications (calcium deposits) and are a normal sign of maturing. The more calcifications, the higher the grade assigned by the ultrasonographer. If calcifications are seen too early in the pregnancy, it can indicate that the placenta is aging too rapidly. In this case, the baby will be evaluated for growth at intervals to be sure he is getting the nutrients that he needs.
No mention of it being caused by smoke. You may want to obtain a second opinion.
2007-08-22 03:27:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just tell her the story like you told us. Your doctor could tell by looking at your ultrasound that you'd been around her smoke, so that means it is definitely harming you and your children. Your children are the most important thing. So you need her to please not smoke around your kids. You don't have to ask her to stop smoking altogether, just around you and your kids. If she has a problem with it, then only let her see the kids in a public place where smoking is prohibited, like a restaurant or in the mall or something. Then she has no choice but not to smoke. Hopefully you and her grandchildren will be more important to her than a ciggy. You have the ultrasound behind you as proof... it's not just some idea you thought up... your doc saw the spots and said it was hurting the baby. If she won't listen to a doc, then, she's living in a dream world.
2007-08-22 03:20:28 · answer #2 · answered by CNJRTOM 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, I do not mean to be rude but has your mother and other family members lost their minds!!!!! Everyone, including die hard smokers who are in denial, know what secondhand smoke does to people, especially a pregnant women and her young children!!!! If they had any respect for you and the health of your children they would not smoke around you. This is not the 1950's. My husband smokes and he knew immediately to start smoking outside( he always did in the garage but that would still get in the house) I will have a similiar issue to deal with when his mother comes to visit us in October after baby arrives and I will have to politely tell her to wash her hands and change her shirt before handling baby because she is a massive chain smoker. They say even the nicitone residue on their clothes will get into baby's skin and nicitone is one of the number cause of SIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! That should be enough to make anyone cautious and don't even get me started on your other children. By the way, I have white spots on my placenta and they caused my placenta to age early to a grade 3 at around 7 months. This was caused by the gestational diabetes that I acquired during pregnancy and it has caused me great alarm because I have had to go to the doctor 3 times per week for ultrasound and NST's to make sure the baby is Ok because the placenta is at the stage it should be at delivery. This has been very scary and caused tremendous amount of worry, so take care of that placenta!!!! Good luck, I am 39 weeks and counting, stay away from the smokers. LOL!!!
2007-08-22 03:43:52 · answer #3 · answered by LOLO 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
White Placenta
2016-12-15 04:24:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do think what the doctor said about the spots on the placenta does sound strange, I agree that's it's a problem to be around smokers while pregnant. I'm going to save this to show my husband and mother-in-law.... They both need to understand how unhealthy it is, especially for unborn children and babies! At least my hubby doesn't smoke in the house!
Smokers don't realize that the air we're breathing in is not filtered.... it is worse!
2007-08-22 03:29:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wow, this is a new one on me. I've never heard of "white spots" on the placenta due to secondhand smoke. Something sounds a little fishy in Denmark on this one.
HOWEVER..........I totally agree with the doctor that cigarette smoke (firsthand or secondhand) is harmful and dangerous to everyone, and that the best thing for your baby is to not be exposed to it at all.
I don't see any problem with simply coming right out and telling your family that you're not comfortable having the baby around smoke! Confirmed smokers might make their little comments about how stupid you're being, but it's YOUR baby and YOUR right to do what you think is best for him/her. Tell your mom that if she wants to see the baby, she needs to curtail the smoking while you're there. If it means enough to her to be a part of the baby's life, she'll do it. Then you'll be helping the baby AND your mom.
BUT...............I wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about what the doctor said. Lots of babies have been born to women who smoked like chimneys and had no problems whatsoever. Keep in mind right now the pendulum has swung deeply in favor of villainizing smokers and blaming smoking for everything from global warming to the 9/11 attacks LOL. Smoking is bad, but it's maybe not quite AS bad as the doctors are being trained to tell us it is. So don't worry. That white spot business sounds awfully fishy to me.
BUT..........DEFINITELY feel free to stand up for what you believe in terms of your baby's health. You are your baby's advocate, and it's up to you to be strong enough to do what you think is right, and don't let anyone tell you differently.
Congrats on the new life!!!
2007-08-22 03:21:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anne M 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Your Doctor smelled smoke on you and wanted to scare you...you are young right?
Research:
Placental grade--The placenta can be seen by ultrasound. Sometimes it will appear to have tiny white flecks in it. These spots are calcifications (calcium deposits) and are a normal sign of maturing. The more calcifications, the higher the grade assigned by the ultrasonographer. If calcifications are seen too early in the pregnancy, it can indicate that the placenta is aging too rapidly. In this case, the baby will be evaluated for growth at intervals to be sure he is getting the nutrients that he needs.
2007-08-22 03:19:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Wow, that's pretty scary. I saw a specialist when I was 20 weeks and she told me that when the baby is born I can't let him be around smokers unless they change their clothes and wash their hands. She said it has been linked to SIDS. I'm in a similar situation because my grandma smokes like a chimney and she is insisting that I let the baby stay with her for a week when he gets a little older. I'm not sure how to tell her that she can't. I know she'll be heart broken and mad. I just don't feel comfortable taking a risk with my child so that she'll be happy. So I guess she'll just have to deal with it. Good luck!
2007-08-22 05:39:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why would you worry about hurting her feelings? Has she been worried about you, your toddler or your baby's health? She's been putting all of you at risk for health problems.
Unless she's had her head in the sand for the last 20 years she clearly knows the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke. Just tell her that the health of your family comes first. If she wants to see you it will need to be in a smoke-free environment.
2007-08-22 03:20:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Simply ask them to smoke out side or refrain from smoking when you are there especially with your kids. You would think thats common sense but obviously not. Alot of smokers don't care about the health of those around them. I used to smoke (quit 3 days ago,) and I always had respect for the people that I was with if they didn't smoke I would ask them if it was okay and if they had kids around I would have more respect and sense than to light up around them
2007-08-22 03:39:22 · answer #10 · answered by his wife 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋