Pregnant woman must quit smoking
DEAR DOCTOR: Our daughter-in-law is four months pregnant with our first grandchild, and we recently became aware that she’s secretly smoking. She says it’s OK because it’s just three cigarettes a day.
DEAR READER: No, it’s not OK to smoke while pregnant.
› Smoking causes lung disease, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and COPD.
› Smoking is the leading cause of most lung cancers.
› Smoking is a significant risk factor for many cancers, including colon, bladder, liver and blood cancers.
› People who smoke have two to four times the risk for heart disease and stroke than non-smokers.
› Even just a few daily cigarettes can cause symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease.
To quote the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency not given to alarmist sentiments, “Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases and reduces the health of smokers in general.”
Here’s what happens when pregnant women smoke.
› Smokers have an increased risk of miscarriage.
› Babies born to smokers have a lower birth weight. And while
having a smaller baby doesn’t sound that bad, low birth weight is a predictor of infant mortality.
› When a pregnant woman smokes, she puts her placenta, the unborn baby’s source of nutrition and oxygen, at risk. Smoking can cause the placenta to separate from the uterus too early. Known as placental abruption, this can prevent the baby from getting adequate oxygen and food. It can result in bleeding, which is a danger to both mother and baby.
› Babies whose mothers smoke during and even after pregnancy are at elevated risk of sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS.
› Research shows that babies born to smokers have a slightly elevated risk of certain birth defects, like a cleft lip or cleft palate.
It’s never too late to quit. The fact that she has been smoking is information that her doctor needs in order to provide the best care. Also, her doctor can help her craft a plan to quit.
If she insists on going solo, there’s a host of resources via cdc.gov or 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).
Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and primary care physician at UCLA Health.