Effects on the foetus

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When a mother smokes, the foetus smokes

Smoking reduces the supply of oxygen to the foetus.

The foetus gets the oxygen and nutrition it needs from its mother via the placenta and the umbilical cord. The nicotine in cigarettes constricts the veins in the womb, placenta and umbilical cord.

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Nicotine is transferred to the foetus through the mother's circulatory system and the placenta. When a mother inhales cigarette smoke, the supply of oxygen to the foetus is reduced. Its organs do not get enough oxygen. Nicotine also raises the heart rate and breathing rate of the foetus.

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Effects on the foetus

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Raised on carbon monoxide

A foetus gets as much carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke as from the exhaust pipe of a car.

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Raised on carbon monoxide

A foetus gets as much carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke as from the exhaust pipe of a car.

Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide. It contains as much carbon monoxide as comes out directly from the exhaust pipe of a car. Carbon monoxide is delivered from the mother's lungs into her bloodstream, then across the placenta and through the umbilical cord to the foetus. Carbon monoxide displaces oxygen. This reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Carbon monoxide can cause malformation and brain damage to the foetus. Allergies and asthma are also more common among the babies of smoking mothers.

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Cigarette smoke contains thousands of poisonous chemicals and compounds – including ones that cause cancer – which are transferred across the placenta into the bloodstream of the foetus. Children who were exposed to tobacco before they were born have an increased risk of early childhood leukaemia.

Whether the father smokes also makes a difference. If the mother is exposed to secondary smoke, this adversely affects the health of the foetus.

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Oxygen is the best kind of motherly love

Enough oxygen is vital for the normal development of the foetus.

If the mother does not smoke, the foetus gets more of the oxygen it needs for normal growth and development. A good supply of oxygen is necessary for the organs, such as the lungs, heart and brain, to develop properly.

Exercise improves oxygen intake. If the mother gets moderate exercise, she will have more energy during pregnancy and will recover more quickly after delivery. Exercise also helps keep the spirits up. When mothers exercise, they also do not gain too much weight, which can be harmful for your health.

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When mothers are physically active, their babies:

are better developed
learn more easily
are born more easily
are more often born by the due date

Other healthy life habits of the mother – such as eating a well-balanced diet, getting enough sleep and no substance abuse – also improve the development and growth of the foetus.

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Smoking is chemical abuse of a child

Tobacco products significantly increase the risk of miscarriage.

If the mother is a smoker, conditions in the womb may become unbearable for the foetus. Smoking is the cause of 15% of all premature births.

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High levels of carbon monoxide may also cause sudden foetal death or SIDS. SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) means that the baby dies during its first months of life for no clear reason.

According to studies, one third of all cases of SIDS may be the result of smoking. The most important causes of SIDS are smoking during pregnancy, exposure of the child to cigarette smoke and low birth weight.

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Snus increases the risk of being stillborn

Pregnant mothers who use snus expose their foetus for significant risk factors

Snus (tobacco consumed by being placed between the upper lip and gum, rather than being smoked) contains a lot of nicotine, which impairs the circulation in the uterus and placenta, which in turn impairs the oxygen intake of the foetus.

If the mother uses snus, she has a higher risk of stillbirth, premature birth or pre-eclampsia than mothers who do not use it.

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A child as small as a cigarette

Smoking slows the growth and development of the foetus.

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A child as small as a cigarette

Smoking slows the growth and development of the foetus.

Smoking greatly increases the risk of the foetus having growth disorders or being malformed. Foetuses that have been exposed to smoking also have more organ anomalies, such as heart lesions and cleft lip and palate. Smoking also impairs the lung function of the foetus and exposes it to infections, which can lead to premature birth. The mother can also pass infections along to the child during birth.

Smoking causes premature birth and low birth weight, which are risk factors for both maturation of the lung tissue and breathing. The gases, including carbon monoxide, contained in cigarette smoke prevent the lung alveoli and bronchi of the foetus from growing properly. Babies born to mothers who smoke often score lower in lung function tests.

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If the mother quits smoking during early pregnancy, foetal growth usually returns to normal. At the same time, the risk of premature birth, separation of the placenta and foetal death decreases to the same level as that of non-smokers.

Disturbances in the growth of the foetus are caused by impaired placental circulation and functional capacity. The placenta of smoking mothers is larger and heavier than normal, because it is trying to give the foetus an adequate supply of oxygen. An enlarged placenta carries a higher risk of premature separation, which often leads to premature birth. Separation of the placenta can endanger the lives of both the foetus and the mother.

Babies of smoking mothers are often born with lower weight and in poorer condition than babies of non-smoking mothers.

› Raised on carbon monoxide

› A child as small as a cigarette

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Raised on carbon monoxide

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A child as small as a cigarette