It's not like we needed yet another study that showed smoking while pregnant, and around infants, is bad for babies. However, another one has surfaced that shows a baby's DNA actually changes when mom smokes. And no, that change is not something that is likely to turn your mild-mannered baby into a mutant superhero. More likely, someone who suffers from asthma and has trouble fighting off disease. But we knew that already, didn't we?
Listen, I'm not someone who believes that women turn into children the minute the plus sign shows up on the stick and should be treated as such. But some health issues are just so obvious, and harmful, that it's baffling when women defend their baby-harming choices. Smoking is one of those obvious dangers, yet women will defend their right to light up. And that's simply selfish.
As a former smoker -- in my youth -- I would always fight for someone's right to harm themselves through a variety of vices. But once you hurt someone else, it's no longer your right. You wouldn't sit and blow smoke into a baby's face (you wouldn't, right?), so why do you think it's okay to force your unborn baby to consume that toxic waste? Unlike a debate on eating peanut butter, cigarette smoking has actually been proven, repeatedly, as harmful. Babies are more likely to be born prematurely, underweight, with a cleft palate, or be stillborn when you smoke. Really, it's bad!
The study also said smoking during pregnancy could potentially have a negative effect on your grandchildren. So, really, you're harming your entire family tree. You don't want that legacy, so get a grip, get help, and create a healthy environment for you, your baby, and his baby's babies. Oh, and dads? This goes for you too.
Did you smoke during pregnancy?
Image via ell brown/Flickr
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Comments 54
I basically think ALL smokers are selfish... rarely does their smoke not make it to non-smokers lungs...
Sitting in traffic on a nice day I always have to roll my windows up or I'm breathing some inconsiderate jerks smoke, sitting outside a Starbucks, at the park, walking down the street, I had to close my house windows on a beautiful day yesterday because my stupid neighbors were outside their house smoking. I don't think it's right that I, my kids, or any non-smoker should EVER have to breath some one's nasty smoke, and we shouldn't have to close windows or leave parks to avoid it!
SMOKING IS SELFISH... Smoking while pregnant is idiotic, they should be able to take the kid away if you don't care enough to quit.
I've never smoked. So no.
and I agree with Blueliner. I have asthma. When people smoke around me I can't breathe.
I quit smoking, cold turkey, the day I found out I was pregnant with my son. I've been smoke free for 4 years now. I have no sympathy for women who say they "can't" quit.
Yes, smoking is an addiction -- but addictions can be overcome. You cant say "but its hard" whine whine. Yes, its hard. But your doing it for your baby. So suck it up and quit.
As a midwife, a smoker automatically opts a potential client out from a home birth. It has the potential to cause too many problems. I have had 2 women in 30 years manage to fool me before the birth. However, the birth itself revealed their lie. Babies are small and not as healthy, placentas are small and gray-ish and literally fall apart. Membranes are yellow-ish. Lots of calcification. Yuck. Excessive bleeding is common. Babies with breathing difficulties and higher incidence of SIDS and even asthma and other lung problems later. Smoking during pregnancy is extremely selfish. Making it illegal? It is hard to legislate morality. Depending on the legal/law enforcement system to enforce morality doesn't work, and shifts the responsibility to the wrong group. We are slowly becoming a nation that looks to the government for far too much as it is.
Never smoked while pregnant and for that matter never smoked I agree with this article 200% Its is selfish and gross to do and while I was pregnant people smoked around me :( while outside or my own mother in law yuck yuck!