Is it Safe: Secondhand Smoke

on July 2, 2009 at 11:43 AM

secondhand smoke and pregnant My friend is pregnant and her husband smokes so she's trying to get him to quit before the baby arrives. That made me wonder whether his smoking could be harmful to her unborn baby right now. Is secondhand smoke safe for pregnant women?

The short answer is no. When a pregnant woman is exposed to secondhand smoke, the nicotine she ingests is passed on to her unborn baby, and here's what could happen.

Women who are exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy:

1. Have a higher rate of miscarriages and stillbirth

2. Have an increased risk of low birth weight infants

3. Have children born with decreased lung function

4. Have children with greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

5. May have children who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other conduct disorders

What can you do to avoid secondhand smoke? Here are some ideas.

1. Ask anyone who lives with you to quit

2. Ask family and friends not to smoke around you

3. If they insist on smoking, have them smoke outside

4. Leave the room or go outside

5. Don't go to places where you know there will be smoke that you can't avoid

Does someone close to you and your baby-to-be smoke? Are you worried about it? What precautions, if any, are you taking to avoid secondhand smoke?

About the author Suzanne Murray

is the Parenting & Political editor at The Stir/Moms Matter 2012.

Filed Under: is it safe

Comments (13)

batonmom114

on Jul 2, 2009 at 11:58 AM

how about causing the young ones to develop asthma and other allergies/reporatory problems. trust me I know, my ex smoked and now all three kids have asthma, one with add and another with adhd. and he even smoked only outside.

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Cafe MicheleZ

on Jul 2, 2009 at 12:38 PM

I even hold my breath when I pass a smoking person on the street. Also when there are bus fumes.

Peajewel

on Jul 2, 2009 at 1:05 PM

Cafe MicheleZ you are so funny. That makes me giggle. My hubby smoked while I was pregnant but did not smoke around me. He did quit once my daughter was three months old because he did not like having too leave and go away from her every time he wanted a smoke. Wasn't on here that you guys did the article about third hand smoke even being bad for people? I still find that one a little far fetched but I would be worried about second hand.

rozepyle

on Jul 2, 2009 at 1:20 PM

not to mention after you smoke your lungs naturally detox themselves FOR A FULL HALF HOUR after....

aurorabunny

on Jul 2, 2009 at 1:44 PM

I think we should all run smokers into the town square with flaming torches and stone them.

Seriously guys, smoking is bad we get it.

on Jul 2, 2009 at 2:57 PM

smoking is the devil

on Jul 2, 2009 at 11:28 PM

Hee hee Aurorabunny that is funny....maybe not not BOTH; maybe just one of the two! Any way, I know when I was a kid we would drive to Florida from Ohio and my step dad would smoke the whole way down there with the window only cracked! Cancer is such a scary word and a lot times people frighten us with so many things, smoking is the easiest to get people with.

I do think that if you are pregnant you should try to stay away from it though.

A_DiPasquale09

on Jul 3, 2009 at 10:40 AM

Avoiding places where people smoke means avoiding my WHOLE family for the next four months lol. Though my mother I could handle not seeing. I'm the only one that doesn't smoke on my side of the family.

momavanessa

on Jul 3, 2009 at 10:03 PM

When I was pregnant my hubby smoked but NEVER around me! Even when we were in the car he would pull over to smoke but he gave it up 3 months before our son was born!!! I am so glad he did! I dont sit in the same room when someone is smoking while I was pregnant. I just think smoking is a nasty habit.

justmykids

on Jul 4, 2009 at 10:01 PM

it is very unsafe to smoke while pregnant i think that if you are a smoker and you find out your pregnant you can at least have the heart for your baby to stop for 9 months