Smoking during pregnancy: studies & cessation

Smoking during pregnancy is not only dangerous for the expectant mother but also negatively affects the development of the child. Many pregnant smokers believe that quitting smoking abruptly and the associated withdrawal symptoms harm the baby, so they do not give up cigarettes. 

However, there is no scientific evidence that withdrawal symptoms affect the baby. On the contrary, numerous studies prove the negative consequences of smoking during pregnancy. Every cigarette not smoked benefits the baby and its development.

Therefore, in this article, we want to introduce you more about smoking during pregnancy and show you some alternatives to help you quit smoking faster. 

Why is smoking harmful during pregnancy?

Smoking is, of course, harmful to us not only during pregnancy but negatively impacts our health at all times. When tobacco burns, a mixture of over 4,000 different substances is produced, of which at least 250 are carcinogenic or toxic. Nicotine is a particularly strong poison that can lead to long-term health damage in the body. 

The nicotine content in cigarettes is usually not high enough to cause an acute nicotine poisoning, but long-term smoking promotes diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, chronic bronchitis, and many others. Smoking contaminates the blood vessels and leads to arteriosclerosis. For this reason, the body can no longer be supplied with enough blood, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and circulatory disorders in the arms and legs.

Oxygen deficiency also affects the baby's development during pregnancy. Nicotine is absorbed directly by the placenta and thus passes to the fetus. Nicotine accumulates not only in the blood of the pregnant woman but also in high concentrations in the uterine lining. Smoking causes more and more harmful substances to reach the unborn baby, which can no longer be adequately supplied with oxygen and nutrients. Every cigarette smoked during pregnancy is also inhaled by the baby. 

Smoking during pregnancy: consequences

Due to the fetus's oxygen deficiency and reduced blood flow in the placenta, a range of developmental and growth disorders can be triggered. These are summarized under the term ‘fetal tobacco syndrome.’ A study by the Austrian Societies for General and Family Medicine shows the consequences of smoking during pregnancy.

Passive smoking during pregnancy

Cigarettes harm the baby whether smoked actively or passively. For healthy development, the child needs a smoke-free environment. In plain terms, this means that not only should the expectant mother quit smoking, but the father should also never smoke in the child's presence or inside the home, as harmful substances and smoke particles can settle everywhere on furniture and carpets.

Drawing on a cigarette creates a very high combustion temperature, which inactivates some of the toxic substances contained in the cigarette. Sidestream smoke, however, contains higher concentrations of some harmful substances, even up to 100 times higher than in mainstream smoke. For this reason, pregnant women should never stay in the immediate vicinity of a smoker.

A smoke-free environment is also important for the child after birth. Children breathe faster than adults and thus take in more toxins and harmful substances. Additionally, their body weight is lower, and due to immature detoxification organs, they can break down harmful substances less effectively. As a result, children exposed to passive smoke are more susceptible to sleep disorders, lung, middle ear, and meningitis infections, coughing, asthma, and have slightly elevated blood pressure.

Quitting smoking during pregnancy

To avoid the diseases described above, there is only one way out: quitting smoking. Quitting smoking has many benefits, not only for the pregnant woman herself but also for the child and its development.

If there is a desire to have children, quitting smoking should happen as early as possible. After quitting, fertility increases, and oxygen supply in the blood gradually improves.

Snus as an alternative to smoking

Since Snus is a product taken exclusively orally and involves no combustion process, the dangers of passive smoking can be eliminated during its use. For expectant fathers and mothers who cannot quit smoking, this is a good alternative to avoid harming the pregnant woman and the child.

Snus can also help with smoking cessation, as the products contain varying amounts of nicotine. Particularly strong products like Siberia Red -80 Degrees WDP have a nicotine content of 43 mg/g. Slightly less nicotine is found in Skruf Super White Fresh with 18 mg/g. Additionally, there is completely nicotine-free Snus, such as edel CBD Mint. This allows for a successful gradual withdrawal.