Consequences of smoking during pregnancy
Special attention must be paid to women in pregnancy regarding the consequences of smoking. These are not only responsible for their own well-being, but also and above all for the well-being of the unborn child, which can get substantial health impairments by smoking in the pregnancy. The mother supplies the child with blood via the placenta, which also contains the harmful substances absorbed from smoking.
Consequences of smoking during pregnancy can thus lead to complications during pregnancy and to malformations and risks for the baby. Overall, the probability of miscarriage is higher. Premature placental detachment and clinical pictures such as (pre-)eclampsia can also be consequences of smoking.
The newborn child is by chance often smaller than its peers and suffers from slow growth in its further development. The birth weight is also lower as a result of smoking during pregnancy, which can lead more often to infections and developmental disorders. Smoking during pregnancy is also known to increase the risk of cleft lip and palate and systemic diseases such as diabetes, allergies, asthma and cardiovascular disease. Thus it can be said that smoking in the pregnancy is to be avoided absolutely and without exception. This applies above all to active smoking, but passive smoking can also cause the above-mentioned consequences of smoking.
Consequences of smoking during the lactation period
After pregnancy, the question arises whether smoking should also be avoided during the breastfeeding period. In addition it must be said that the pollutants and nicotine developing by the burn arrive also into the breast milk, so that these can be supplied to the baby. Even if the consequences of smoking during breastfeeding are less dramatic than during pregnancy, they should not be underestimated.
The concentration in the milk during breastfeeding is as high as in the mother’s blood, so that nausea, vomiting and colic can occur in the baby as a result of smoking, especially in heavy smokers. The baby sucks more weakly and becomes restless, the development of the baby can be delayed. There are also consequences of smoking during the breastfeeding period which influence the mothers’ breastfeeding behaviour. The milk is added later in smokers and the amount produced is also lower. It should be noted that it is best to refrain from smoking completely during the breastfeeding period, never smoke in the presence of the child.
