How Smoking Affects the Fetus

Effects Of Smoking on Fetus

Are you considering quitting smoking because of the negative effects of smoking on a fetus? If you’re still on the fence about giving up the gratification of a cigarette, just remember that it’s not simply about you anymore. Your baby needs you to be in good health and smoke-free to grow healthy and strong inside you. Smoking while pregnant is one of the best ways to give your unborn baby health and developmental problems that will last a lifetime. Undoubtedly your baby will suffer the adverse effects of smoke and nicotine addiction from your habit. The effects of smoking on a fetus are numerous. At the very least, nicotine will unnaturally regulate the flow of more than 200 neurochemicals in the mind and body of the fetus defore birth. These chemicals include adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin and more.

More Effects of Smoking on Fetus

Believe it or not, nicotine is more addictive than cocaine or heroine. Among the effects of smoking on a fetus are going through nicotine withdrawal and chemical detox during the first few hours of life. Nicotine will very likely inflict lasting damage upon the baby’s nervous system. If you’re trying to quit using the patch, don’t. With constant nicotine delivered to the fetus, the patch does more harm to the unborn baby than exposure to cigarette smoke alone. Often smokers who try to quit spontaneously while using the patch end up smoking on top of using the nicotine patch. In the end, smoking while wearing the patch simply visits more of the negative effects of smoking on the fetus than smoking or the patch alone.

If you are not yet pregnant, quit smoking before you become pregnant. If you are already pregnant, consider counseling to help you quit smoking. It’s important to quit smoking before you do irreparable damage to your unborn baby. For suggestions and support, talk to your health care provider before it’s too late.