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Bringing a new baby into this world is not an easy task. Nurturing a child's growth starts prenatally with the choices an expectant mother makes.
In 2021, 8.7 percent (3,214) of expectant mothers in Iowa smoked cigarettes during pregnancy. Tobacco use during pregnancy has been linked to a variety of negative birth outcomes. These include ectopic pregnancy, fetal death, miscarriage, problems with the placenta, premature rupture of the membranes, and premature labor.
If you are pregnant, every time you smoke a cigarette, it reduces oxygen to your unborn baby exposes them to many toxic chemicals, and presents various complications for your unborn baby's growth. These include: reduced oxygen supply and nutrients due to carbon monoxide and nicotine in tobacco smoke, Impaired or slower growth and development, increased risk of birth defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate, the baby's movements are weaker in the womb for at least an hour after smoking each cigarette, harming the development of the baby's brain and lungs.
Secondhand smoke is smoke you breathe in from someone else's cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other tobacco product. Secondhand smoke is dangerous for you and your baby. Being around secondhand smoke during pregnancy can cause your baby to be born with low birthweight or birth defects. Babies exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely than babies who aren't to die of SIDS. They're also at risk for health problems like asthma, bronchitis, ear infections, and pneumonia.
By not smoking, you are providing a healthier life for your child, yourself, your family, and everyone around you. For free coaching and a customized quit plan, call Quitline Iowa at 1-800-QUIT-NOW for over-the-phone help 24 hours a day. The Quit Line provides free one-on-one phone counseling and information.
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Carrie Kube is a Director for the
Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board.