When you become pregnant you have another life that is dependent on you. You have a responsibility to protect your unborn baby. If you want to know how smoking harms babies, then keep reading. A baby in the womb receives nutrients and oxygen via the placenta and umbilical cord. Women who smoke, limit the amount of oxygen their baby will receive. The oxygen is replaced by harmful substances like tar, nicotine and carbon dioxide. This lack of oxygen can lead to your baby growing more slowly and putting on less weight while in the womb.

Smoking while you are pregnant will not only leave your baby with a weakened immune system, but a list of other problems. Your child could suffer from ear infections, asthma, have a low birth weight, autism, premature birth and hyperactivity. Nicotine is addictive. If you smoke whilst you are pregnant, your baby will be born addicted to nicotine. When a baby should be adjusting to life outside the womb, your baby will be enduring nicotine withdrawal. Your baby does not deserve this. Give your child a fair start in life.

Smoking in later pregnancy is very dangerous. You are at an increased risk of the baby’s placenta coming away from the womb before birth. This can result in your baby being born prematurely, starving of oxygen or even dying in the womb.

It is not only first hand smoke that is dangerous to mother and baby, it is second hand smoke too. So before you light your next cigarette, think about the damage you could be doing.