Many women are exposed to passive smoking during pregnancies. Smoking or passively having tobacco smoke before or during pregnancy is linked to a variety of worse outcomes, including decreased fertility, an increased risk of pregnancy complications, and impaired infant and child development.
Tobacco smoke is one of the few preventable causes of poor pregnancy outcomes in developed countries such as Australia. Approximately 17% of pregnant Australian women smoke. That is why after having lots of concern for those women’s health we have come up with an amazing article on passive smoking during pregnancies.
Health Impact of Passive Smoking on Pregnancy
Tobacco smoke contains several carcinogens (agents which cause cancer). Tobacco smoke carcinogens have been shown to accumulate in and damage nearly all body organs, including the reproductive organs. While consuming tobacco products, smoking alters the chemical environment of the smoker’s body (e.g., lowers oxygen supply).
Smoking reduces a woman’s chances of having a healthy pregnancy even before she conceives; it can affect her chances of having a healthy pregnancy even before she conceives. Same is the case with women who are being exposed to smoke through passive means. Let’s look at some other ways it can harm a pregnant woman.
Before Pregnancy
Following problems arise before pregnancy; in those women who are experiencing passive smoking during pregnancies.
Infertility
Women who smoke actively or passively are more likely than non-smokers to be infertile. Twelve studies in Europe and other countries examining the link between smoking and female infertility found that female who are being exposed to smokers were more than 60% more likely to be infertile than non-exposed.
According to Australian research, female passive smokers have twice the risk of infertility as non-passive smokers. Smoking also affects a woman’s menstrual cycle that reduces fertility. Female passive smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have irregular menstrual cycles, amenorrhoea, and early menopause.
Response to In Vitro Fertilisation
In vitro fertilization allows many infertile women to conceive. On the other hand, women who smoke are less likely than women who do not smoke to become pregnant after an IVF embryo is transferred into their uterus. Evidence from nine studies on the effects of smoking on IVF outcomes revealed that active and passive smokers were 34% less likely to become pregnant after IVF treatment than nonsmokers.
Toxins in cigarette smoke appear to have a negative impact on an embryo’s (fertilized egg’s) ability to implant into the uterine lining and form a pregnancy. Toxins in cigarette smoke may also affect embryo growth in the early stages of pregnancy if the embryo successfully implants.
During Pregnancy
Tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy affects the development of her fetus from the very early stages of pregnancy and increases the likelihood of complications during pregnancy.
Miscarriage
According to Australian research, women who are passively smoking during pregnancy are 36% more likely to miscarry than those who do not. Preventing pregnant women from active or passive smoking could prevent about 9% of miscarriages.
Ectopic Pregnancy
According to Australian research, passive smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of ectopic (extra-uterine or tubal) pregnancy by 46 percent. Smoking is responsible for 11 percent of ectopic pregnancy cases in Australia. According to one French study, the more a woman is exposed to smoked, the more likely she would have an ectopic pregnancy.
In that study, women who get passive smoke of more than 20 cigarettes per day were 3.9 times more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. In comparison, those who smoked ten cigarettes per day were only 1.7 times more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy than those who had never smoked.
Preterm Delivery
In Australia in 2003, infants born to smoking mothers were 60% more likely to be delivered preterm than infants born to non-smoking mothers. This includes the following:
- Premature membrane rupture, placenta praevia, and placental abruption
- Intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight
After Childbirth
Tobacco use during pregnancy is also linked to poor health outcomes after childbirth in infants and children born to smoking mothers.
Stillbirth
According to Australian research, women who are exposed to smoke during pregnancy are 33% more likely to have a stillborn infant, and smoking is responsible for approximately 9% of stillbirths in Australia.
Early Infant Death
There is compelling evidence that exposing to smoking during pregnancy increases a woman’s infant’s risk of death in the first four weeks of life. According to Australian research, infants born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy are 28% more likely to die within 28 days of birth than infants born to mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy. Data from other developed countries show that smoking mothers’ infants are more likely to die before their first birthday.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Infants born to smoking mothers are up to three times more likely to die from SIDS than those born to nonsmoking mothers. According to Australian research, smokers’ infants have a 2.7 times higher risk of SIDS, and smoking is responsible for 34% of all SIDS cases. SIDS is also more common in babies born to mothers who smoke after birth.
Childhood Respiratory Illnesses including Asthma
Even if the child’s parents do not smoke during the first two years of life, passive smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of several childhood respiratory illnesses. According to one study, children aged 6 to 12 born to smokers or passive smokers were 25% more likely to wheeze, 18% more likely to have asthma, and 13% more likely to cough at night than children born to non-smokers. If you and your baby is having such problems then please immediately consult a pulmonologist.
Congenital Abnormalities
According to new research, there is a link between passive smoking during pregnancies and digital anomaly (incorrect number of fingers or toes) in the infant. There is no evidence that smoking causes other congenital abnormalities, such as spina bifida.
How Safe is E-cig Vapor?
Because e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, do not emit tobacco smoke, the risks associated with passive smoking with traditional cigarettes do not apply to e-cigs.
Research in this area is ongoing, but it appears that e-cigarettes emit negligible amounts of nicotine into the atmosphere. The limited evidence suggests that any risk to bystanders from passive vaping is small compared to tobacco cigarettes.
In England, the government has no plans to outlaw vaping indoors (although some employers have), but some health professionals advise against using them around pregnant women, babies, and children.
How to manage Passive Smoking during Pregnancies?
When many women learn they are pregnant, they may get away from passive smoking, and women trying to conceive should ideally be away from passive smoking before conception. When they find out they are pregnant, a significant proportion of Australian women (25-40%) quit smoking on their own according to a research.
However, for others, leaving smoking or avoiding passive smoking is more complex and may require professional assistance, especially if its because of their life partner. In such scenarios you may seek some expert’s advice.
Many healthcare professionals can help women who want to avoid passive smoking, such as referring them to non smoking programs, support groups, or prescribing medications to help their partner’s quit smoking. According to research, women who participate in quit smoking programs are more likely to quit smoking or avoid passive smoking while pregnant.
It is also critical that pregnant women with smoking partners are aware of the adverse effects of their partner’s smoking and develop strategies to reduce their exposure to tobacco smoke. For instance, the woman’s partner should not smoke in the house or near her.
The Benefits of Avoiding Passive Smoking
Avoiding passive smoking during pregnancies lowers the risk of many of the adverse maternal and infant outcomes listed above. A woman who gets away from passive smoking during her first trimester of pregnancy, for example, is more likely to have an infant of the same weight as a woman who never get exposed to smoke during her pregnancy.
Final Notes
Other factors that can affect fetal health during pregnancy that pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy should be aware of include: Good nutrition, Regular exercise, Abstaining from or reducing alcohol consumption and Stress. In case of any problem during pregnancy please contact the best gynecologist in town.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with the top gynecologists in Pakistan through Marham or get appointment by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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FAQ’s
Is passive smoking during pregnancies harmful?
Pregnant women exposed to passive smoke are more likely to have a premature birth, and their baby is more likely to have a low birth weight and die in the womb.
Is it possible for passive smoking to cause miscarriage?
A large observational study published online in Tobacco Control found that passive smoking is associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage.
Is the odor of cigarettes harmful to a baby?
It discovered that certain toxins in cigarette smoke affect lung development negatively. Thirdhand smoke exposure in a baby can also cause respiratory illnesses after birth.
Is it safe to smoke secondhand during pregnancy?
Secondhand smoke is dangerous for both you and your child. Being exposed to secondary smoke during pregnancy can result in a low birth weight baby or congenital disabilities.