What would cause a woman to smoke while she is pregnant? And what are the after effects?

Question

What would cause a woman to smoke while she is pregnant? And what are the after effects?

Answer 1

Most women who smoke through pregnancy, smoked before, and being addicted to cigarettes is a very hard thing to stop.

The after-effects of smoke are rather high. While pregnant, the nicotine actually closes the placenta off somewhat, causing low birth weight. There is also an increase risk of SIDS, asthma, other respiratory problems as children on through to adult-hood. Smoking has also shown an increase risk of miscarriage and birth defects. I'm sure the list goes on, and would be better to think of the after effects of the baby. I'm not sure if second hand smoke around a baby is any better either, but considering the smoker only takes in 1/3 of the cigarette and the other 2/3 is second hand, I'd think it would be even worse on the infant.

Answer 2

I don't care if I get thumbs down but here goes...

I was a heavyish smoker before I found I was pregnant. I was smoking a pack a day up until the day I found out I was pregnant. Unfortunately, every day has been a constant struggle to quit smoking. I absolutely know the risks of smoking during pregnancy, which is why I don't smoke whole cigarettes but it's hard to get through everyday without at least 2 drags.
Sure, if you're a heavy smoker, the effects on your baby can be detrimental, but not always.

My baby is totally healthy so far, yes I take drags of cigarettes still and I am trying my hardest not to. It's not because I am selfish, I care so very much about my unborn child, but I can't deny that I'm addicted to cigarettes. He's healthy so far, all his limbs, a perfect heartrate, growing perfectly and his weight is on par so far. I worry about asthma, but asthma runs on both sides of the family so he's going to get it due to genetics. The stress of all the things that COULD go wrong with him is almost what pushes me to smoke. I get horrible anxiety and all I want to do is smoke. Luckily, all I need is a drag or 2 to help with the cravings.

That's MY story. And yes, I do feel bad enough about it, I beat myself up enough about it, so if anyone else reads this please don't chastize me.

Answer 3

if she smoked before and is addicted, it's hard to quit. also, it can be hard on the baby if she quits cold turkey, doctors usually recomend weaning off.
a couple after effects, while not actually conclusive as there's been no studies done on it, include low birth weight, increased chance of miscarriage, cleft palate & similar birth defects; they usually only occur if the mom was a heavy smoker thru out the pregnancy though

Answer 4

I would say that she does because of an addiction. Smoking is a very hard addiction to overcome and unfortunately many woman continue it during pregnancy.

It can cause low birth weight, increase the risk of premature birth, have an increased risk of a stillbirth, and an increase the chances of SIDS after birth.

Answer 5

Addiction, bad relationships, stress and many other things can cause a woman but on the flip side I know so many women that smoked with all of their pregnancies and all their children are perfectly normal... and I do know alot of women that did this

Answer 6

I have no idea, but then I've never been addicted to nicotine before.
We watched a movie in my prenatal classes that showed (by ultrasound/fetal monitor) that even with second-hand smoke, the baby's heart rate started racing for several minutes. Smoking also leads to lower birth weight.

Answer 7

what do you mean what would CAUSE a woman to smoke? more than likely she smoked BEFORE she got pregnant... i think this should be blatantly obvious.

so really you mean, what would cause a women to CONTINUE to smoke during pregnancy and it's called addiction. it's hard to break and a pregnant woman shouldn't be chastised about it. she's probably already beating herself up about it anyway.

Answer 8

Addiction would cause her to smoke. Low birth weight would be a side effect to the fetus.

Answer 9

It's hard for most women to quit smoking once they get pregnant.
It could cause premature labor, and birth defects. It could also cause low birth weight.

Answer 10

smoking while pregnant may cause a child with a low birth weight and some think smaller babies make giving birth easier, well that is not true..
my babies were
7lb 4
5 lb 15
7lb 2
and the hardest was the smallest one........(she was full term and i am a non smoker)
anyway everything the mother takes does pass through to the child and ow many would stick a ciggy in a babies mouth???