NARRATOR: If you're pregnant and you smoke, you need to know that your risk of your baby being born too small is one and a half to three and a half times greater. By quitting now, your baby has a better chance to be born at a normal weight and have healthy lungs. But it’s also important for you to stay smoke free after your baby is born.
Dr. Cathy Melvin, Director of the National Partnership to Help Pregnant Smokers Quit.
DR. CATHY MELVIN: Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are at twice the risk for sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. They’re also more likely to have wheezing and other upper respiratory problems during the first year of their life and on into their early childhood years. So it’s very important to try and quit smoking while you’re pregnant and to stay smoke-free after the baby is born.
NARRATOR: For free materials on quitting or to speak to a quit coach, call the National Quitline at 1-800 QUIT NOW. A message from the U.S. Public Health Service.
Current as of November 2006
Internet Citation:
Pregnancy and Smoking. Audio news release transcript. November 2006. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/audio/pregSmoking.htm