There are a million reasons to quit smoking. Kicking the habit is the best thing you can do for your baby when you learn you are pregnant. In addition, there are many health benefits for mommy. Recent research has shown another good reason to quit now. You will reduce your risk of developing pre-eclampsia if you quit smoking.
Pre-eclampsia is a form of pregnancy induced hypertension. Women with pre-eclampsia have high blood pressure and protein in the urine. This is a serious condition for both the mother and baby, often resulting in bed rest and preterm birth.
A UK study at the University of Nottingham showed that smokers were five times as likely to develop pre-eclampsia compared with non smokers. The good news from the study is that quitting smoking helps to limit the damage and mitigate some of the risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Quitting early in the pregnancy offers the best outcome.
Pre-eclampsia wasn’t the only negative affect noted in the study. The smoking mothers to be were more likely to have a low birth weight baby and preterm birth. Quitting smoking can also help reduce the risk of these complications as well. There are benefits after the baby is born too. These include a lower risk of both SIDS and asthma.
Further studies are being done with regard to helping mothers quit smoking. Quitting is never easy, but being pregnant offers a great motivating factor–your baby! Studies are being conducted on the safety and effectiveness of using nicotine patches during pregnancy. Preliminary studies have shown patches to be safe, but research continues in this area.
If you are unable to quit smoking, speak to your health care provider at your next appointment. Often women are scared to do this and even hide the smoking. Don’t do this. Your doctor or midwife can help with information about safe and effective methods for kicking the habit.
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