Smoking Effects on Fetuses

To smoke, or not to smoke? That's an important question when you're pregnant. According to Dr. Robert Welch of Providence Hospital, maternal smoking is the primary cause of delivering unhealthy babies. The chemicals found in cigarette smoke are dangerous to the fetus. Some chemicals present include carbon monoxide, nicotine, cyanide and lead. Exposure to these chemicals in the womb can have various detrimental effects on the developing fetus.

Oxygen Deprivation

• The carbon monoxide and nicotine found in cigarette smoke decrease the fetus's oxygen supply significantly. Sometimes oxygen levels can become so low that the fetus dies before it can be born, resulting in a stillbirth.

Growth Retardation

• Oxygen deprivation can stunt the growth of the fetus. Often babies born to maternal smokers are small for their gestational age. Smaller babies are more susceptible to suffering from other complications after birth.

Lung Development

• Often low-birth weight babies will have underdeveloped lungs, which is a serious problem. Babies exposed to cigarette smoke in the womb are more likely to suffer from asthma.

Learning Disabilities

• Maternal smoking effects the development of the fetal brain. Those fetuses exposed to tobacco smoke in the womb are more likely to exhibit learning disabilities.

Behavior Problems

• According to a study conducted by Mount Sinai, a link exists between maternal smoking and behavioral problems in children. The study concluded that smoking affected the neurophysiological development and functioning within the growing fetus during pregnancy.