The effect on your baby

When you smoke a cigarette, all the poisonous substances you breathe in get into your bloodstream, and from there into your baby’s blood too. This means both of you are at risk. All the following effects have been proven by recent medical research.

Pregnancy complications

Smoking increases the risk of a number of pregnancy complications. Compared to non-smokers, smokers are:

• between 30% and 50% more likely to have a miscarriage; and
• twice as likely as non-smokers to develop a problem with the placenta.

Research also suggests that 1 in 10 stillbirths is caused by smoking.

Low birth weight

Smoking cuts down the amount of oxygen and nutrients that get to your baby through the placenta. Your baby needs these to grow and develop, so babies of women who smoke tend to be smaller than 6 Statistics are based on Pregnancy, Infants and Smoking - An Irish National Status Report. (2000) Department of Public Health, ERHA they should be.

If you smoke all through your pregnancy, on average your baby will be almost half a pound (200g) lighter than if you’d been a non-smoker. It may not sound like much, but size is critical. Smaller babies are more at risk of infections and other health problems. Don’t think that a smaller baby means an easier delivery. The baby’s head won’t be much smaller, and that’s the most difficult part to get out.

Cot death

If you smoke during pregnancy or after the baby is born, cot death is up to three times more likely. Some studies suggest that a quarter of all cot deaths are caused by smoking.

Asthma, wheezing, and chest infections

Smoking while pregnant damages the development of the baby’s lungs. Babies born to women who smoke are twice as likely to develop asthma and are also more likely to have other lung problems, such as wheezing and chest infections.

After your baby is born

Babies and children need to be protected from passive smoking, ideally by making your home a smoke-free zone. Cigarette smoke can trigger asthma attacks or chest infections, but there are other dangers too.

Ear infections

Babies exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to get middle ear infections and ‘glue ear’, which can cause partial deafness.

Colic

Babies whose mothers smoke are twice as likely to suffer from infantile colic (although breastfeeding provides some protection against this).

Meningitis

If you smoke, your baby is up to three and a half times more likely to get meningitis. Many people carry meningitis bacteria for years in their nose and throat without ever getting ill. Cigarette smoke damages the lining of the baby’s nose and throat, allowing more bacteria to stick there, so making infection more likely.