Smoking during pregnancy is not only dangerous for the expectant mother, but also negatively affects the development of the child. Many pregnant women who smoke assume that quitting abruptly and the associated withdrawal symptoms will harm the child, so they continue to smoke.
However, there is no scientific evidence that withdrawal symptoms can be passed on to the baby. In contrast, there are numerous studies that demonstrate the negative consequences of smoking during pregnancy. Every cigarette not smoked benefits the baby and its development.
Therefore, in this article, we want to introduce you to the topic of smoking during pregnancy and show you some alternatives to help you quit smoking faster.
Why is smoking during pregnancy harmful?
Smoking is not only harmful to us during pregnancy, but negatively affects our health at all times. When tobacco is burned, a mixture of over 4000 different substances is produced, at least 250 of which are carcinogenic or toxic. Nicotine is a particularly strong poison that can lead to long-term health damage in the body.
The nicotine content in cigarettes is usually not high enough to cause an acute nicotine poisoning, but years of smoking can lead to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, chronic bronchitis, and many more. Smoking contaminates the blood vessels and leads to vascular calcification. As a result, the body is no longer adequately supplied with blood, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and circulatory disorders in the arms and legs.
The lack of oxygen also affects the development of the baby during pregnancy. Nicotine is absorbed directly by the placenta and thus passes on to the fetus. Not only does nicotine accumulate in the blood of the pregnant woman, but it also accumulates in high concentrations in the uterine lining. Through smoking, more and more toxins reach the unborn baby, depriving it of sufficient oxygen and nutrients. Every cigarette smoked during pregnancy is therefore also smoked by the baby.
Smoking during pregnancy: Consequences
Due to the fetus being undersupplied with oxygen and reduced blood flow in the placenta, a range of developmental and growth disorders can be triggered. These are summarized under the term 'fetal tobacco syndrome'. A study by the Austrian Societies for General and Family Medicine shows the consequences of smoking during pregnancy.
Passive smoking during pregnancy
Cigarettes harm the baby, whether they are actively or passively smoked. For a healthy development, the child needs a smoke-free environment. In plain language, this means that not only should the expectant mother quit smoking, but the father should also never smoke in the presence of the child or in the home, as toxins and smoke particles can settle everywhere on furniture and carpets.
When smoking a cigarette, a very high combustion temperature is generated, which inactivates some of the toxins contained in the cigarette. In secondhand smoke, there is a higher concentration of some pollutants, up to 100 times higher than in mainstream smoke. For this reason, pregnant women should never be in the immediate vicinity of a smoker.
Even after birth, a smoke-free environment is important for the child. Children breathe faster than adults and therefore absorb more toxins and pollutants. In addition, their body weight is lower, and their immature detoxification organs make it more difficult for them to break down the toxins. As a result, children exposed to secondhand smoke are more susceptible to sleep disorders, lung, middle ear, and meningeal infections, coughing, asthma, and have a slightly elevated blood pressure.
Quitting smoking during pregnancy
To avoid the diseases described above, there is only one way out: quit smoking. Quitting smoking has many benefits, not only for the pregnant woman herself but also for the child and its development.
If there is a desire to have children, quitting smoking should be done as early as possible. After quitting smoking, fertility is increased, and oxygen supply in the blood gradually improves.
Snus as an alternative to smoking
Since Snus is a product that is exclusively taken orally and does not involve a combustion process, the dangers of passive smoking can be eliminated during consumption. For expectant fathers who cannot quit smoking, this is a good alternative to avoid harming the pregnant woman and the child.
Snus can also help with smoking cessation, as the products have varying levels of nicotine. Particularly strong products like Siberia Rot -80 Degrees Slim WDP have a nicotine content of 43 mg/g. Slightly less nicotine is found in Après No.1 Menthol X-Strong with 15 mg/g. In addition, there are completely nicotine-free Snus products, such as edel CBD Mint. This allows for a successful gradual withdrawal.
