Why YOU need to Quit Smoking NOW!

World Smokefree Day is 31 May, and for mums-to-be, it’s critical to kick the habit for your health, and the health of your baby, explains Penny Voigt.

Whether you’re already pregnant or still trying to conceive, quitting smoking is probably the most important decision you’ll ever make about your own and your baby’s health. With there being no time to waste, you may wish to try snus portion bags in the very near future. There’s little doubt that smoking during pregnancy or when trying to conceive negatively affects the health and wellbeing of your unborn child; in fact, it’s the number one cause of adverse outcomes for babies. Miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and infant death are just some of the side effects directly related to smoking during pregnancy.

SMOKING DURING PREGNANCY IS DANGEROUS

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals including cyanide, lead and at least 60 cancer-inducing compounds. When you smoke during pregnancy these toxins enter your bloodstream and are passed onto your baby. Your blood is after all your baby’s only source of oxygen and nutrients. While all of these chemicals are harmful to your baby, the worst of these are nicotine and carbon monoxide. These two toxins account for almost every smoking-related complication in pregnancy. Nicotine causes the blood vessels in your body to narrow, including those in the umbilical cord, while red blood cells that would normally carry oxygen begin picking up molecules of carbon monoxide instead, effectively starving your baby of its essential supply of oxygen. This is just one of the many reasons why you definitely want to quit smoking or at least replace smoking cigarettes with a nicotine-free vape liquid that can decrease a lot of health risks associated with smoking cigarettes and nicotine.

YOUR SMOKING DIRECTLY AFFECTS YOUR BABY

Oxygen deficiency can have devastating effects on your baby’s growth and development. Research shows smoking during pregnancy doubles the chances of premature birth, low birth weight and the risk of stillbirth. Here are some of the ways that smoking during pregnancy impacts your baby:

Weight and size: A pack-a-day habit during pregnancy can reduce your baby’s birth weight by as much as 200g, while two packs a day shaves off 500g or more. It may seem like a good idea to deliver a smaller baby, but stunting baby’s growth in the womb has long-term negative consequences.

Body and lungs: Babies who are undersized tend to have underdeveloped bodies. That means their lungs may not be ready to work on their own. Your baby could spend its first few days or even weeks attached to a respirator, and may have continuing breathing problems or be especially vulnerable to asthma because of delayed lung development.

Heart: Research in the US found that babies whose mums smoked during pregnancy were at far higher risk of congenital heart defects, as much as 20 to 70% more than babies of non-smoking mums.

Brain function: Smoking during pregnancy has a lifelong impact on your baby’s brain, as children of pregnant smokers are more likely to have learning disorders, behavioural problems, and low IQs

WHAT CAN I DO?

The good news is you can make a difference. Within 24 hours of quitting smoking, all carbon monoxide has left your body and your lungs begin functioning better. After a year of quitting smoking, your risk of a heart attack literally halves. Aside from the cost saving, quitting smoking means you and your baby will live a longer, healthier life.

GET SOME HELP

Quitting smoking isn’t easy. Finding a way to do it will depend on what works best for you. Here are some methods to try:

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): You can use Vaping as a Nicotine Replacement Therapy or, alternatively, gum, lozenges, and patches can help reduce your nicotine cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms.

Prescription medication: Talk to your doctor or medical professional about a treatment of medication that directly affects brain chemistry, helping control withdrawal symptoms.

Alternative therapies like hypnosis or acupuncture can reduce cravings and help you relax.

Cut back: Gradually reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day until you’re no longer smoking at all.

Cold turkey: If you have strong willpower, try throwing awayyour last pack and never looking back. Stock up on gum, veggies, and lollies to keep your mouth busy when the urge strikes.

Quitline 0800 778 778, quit.org.nz, and smokefree.

org.nz: Organisations like these provide a number of free resources, as well as ongoing support and advice.

THE FACTS ABOUT SMOKING AND FERTILITY

Ideally you should quit smoking before you conceive, as you’ll have a far better chance of falling pregnant. Here are some facts you should know about smoking when trying to get pregnant:

  • Smokers take longer to conceive and are more likely to have fertility problems.
  • Women who smoke are more likely to take longer than a year to conceive.
  • If your partner is also a smoker this significantly adds to the length of time it will take you to conceive.
  • Smoking women reach menopause earlier than non-smoking women.
  • The more you smoke, the more you impact your ability to get pregnant and the longer it will take you to conceive.
  • Heavy smoking can damage your ovaries and uterus, making it even harder to get pregnant
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