Pregnancy and Smoking:
The Health Risks for Mom and Baby

Women who smoke are at increased risk for all types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, gum disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. For those women who are trying to get pregnant, smoking can make it more difficult to become pregnant.

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to ectopic or tubal pregnancies, vaginal bleeding, placenta abruption (the placenta partially or totally peels away from the wall of the uterus before delivery), placenta previa (the placenta is low-lying and covers part or all of the opening of the uterus) and still birth (death of the fetus).

Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy are at greater risk for birth defects, for being born prematurely, and for being born at lower birth weights. These infants are at increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS as well.

Women who smoke and are planning a pregnancy should make plans to stop smoking before they get pregnant. They should talk to their doctor about developing a plan to quit. The Illinois Tobacco Quitline at 1-866-QUIT-YES (1-866-784-3937) also provides support for smoking cessation.

Links to related websites:

March of Dimes www.marchofdimes.com
CDC Reproductive Health www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/tobaccousepregnancy/index.htm

IMPORTANT LINKS


American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org)

American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org)

American Cancer Society, National Web Site (www.cancer.org)

National Cancer Institute (www.nci.nih.gov)

Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov)