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Smoking and My Baby
Congratulations! You now have the BEST reason to quit smoking for good.
Which describes you?
Check the statement above that best describes your smoking status. Bring this information to (or tell) your doctor or prenatal caregiver. With this information, your practitioner can help you get started on a quit plan that feels right for you and improves your chance of success. It helps to get help.Each year, only about 5 percent of people who try to stop on their own succeed. Those who do reach out and get the help they need for themselves and their babies double their chances of quitting for good. Help and support is just a phone call away. Breathing easy for two.Quitting now increases the amount of oxygen your baby will get and the chances his or her lungs will work well. Quitting now gives you more energy and helps you breathe easier! Quitting early in your pregnancy gives your baby the best chance to be born healthy, but: It’s never too late to stop.Stop by the third month of pregnancy and your baby will have a better chance of being normal in size. Stop by week 30 and your baby will be bigger than if you continued smoking. Stop at least 48 hours before delivery and your baby will have more oxygen available during the stress of labor. What are my risks? My baby’s risks?Even if you are not ready to give up cigarettes for you and your baby, you should know what might lie ahead. Smoking during your pregnancy doubles the risk that your baby will be born early and will weigh less than five and one-half pounds. And babies whose growth is stunted by tobacco are not just short on baby fat—their brains and other vital organs are smaller. If you smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day during pregnancy, your child is 50 percent more likely to develop cancer, particularly leukemia or lymphoma. Ask your doctor or prenatal caregiver about the disorders, diseases and complications listed below. Stay on the Smoke-Free Path.The hardest part is staying smoke-free after your baby is born. Less than half of all women who give up smoking during pregnancy remain non-smokers. Sticking with your plan to stay tobacco free ensures that your child will have fewer colds, ear infections and bouts of asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia. Most important, your child will be less likely to take up smoking. Your risks
Your baby’s risks
Last Updated March 8, 2005 |
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