The Effects of Smoking on a Pregnant Woman's Fetus

Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to numerous negative side effects for the baby before and after birth.

Low Birth Weight

• Babies born to mothers who smoke have a 2 to 4 times greater risk of having a low birth weight (less than 5.5 lbs). According to Baby Center.com, a mother who smokes half a pack a day can reduce the weight of her baby by half a pound. By smoking one pack a day, the birth weight can be decreased by as much as a pound.

Breathing Difficulties

• A low birth weight is often accompanied by immature lung development. Also, babies born to smoking mothers have a greater chance of developing asthma as they grow older.

Birth Defects

• Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have babies born with birth defects. These defects include cerebral palsy, mental retardation and heart problems.

Increased Risk of SIDS

• The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment states that a mother who smokes has a greater chance of having a baby with a predisposition to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The risk of having a baby suffer from SIDS is 2 to 3 times higher for mothers who smoke.

Risk of Learning Problems

• Smoking while pregnant has been linked to learning problems in children. These children are more prone to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and even a lower IQ.