Fetal Smoking
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A woman who smokes while pregnant smokes for two - herself and her baby. This affects the unborn child in many ways. Because smoking causes blood vessels to become narrower, the baby gets less of the mother’s blood supply. This increases the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. A baby born at a lower-than-normal weight is more likely to have health problems. Further, a newborn child in the care of a mother who smokes is at risk for lung problems caused by cigarette smoke. In some infants of mothers who smoke, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may also be a risk.
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