Is smoking bad during pregnancy?
On One Hand: Smoking can harm the fetus.Smoking while pregnant can harm the fetus. Smoking raises the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight and other complications. It also reduces the lung functioning of the baby and may decrease the quantity of oxygen that is available to the fetus.On the Other: Quitting early has benefits.According to the American Cancer Society, quitting smoking in the first three or four months of pregnancy reduces the risk of low birth weight to a risk equal of that of women who did not smoke during pregnancy. In addition, quitting smoking means your baby will not consume nicotine through breast milk or be exposed to secondhand smoke.Bottom LineIf you smoke and become pregnant, talk to your doctor about making a plan to quit smoking.
