During Pregnancy: Smoking

Studies indicate that smoking during pregnancy is a risk to the health of your foetus. Smoking has been attributed to many adverse long-term effects on, not only the child’s health, but also in relation to behavioural problems.

Children of a mother who smokes during pregnancy are more likely to abuse drugs, cigarettes and alcohol and be more prone to negative behavioural tendencies such as risk-taking, impulsiveness, and rebelliousness.
(Source: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information - USA)

Whilst there are less women than ever smoking during pregnancy, the habit still exists and passive smoking for those whose employment or socialising means that they are exposed to second-hand smoke is also a problem. 

Smoking during pregnancy can cause the baby to have a lower birth-weight, be born premature or to be still-born. It also increases the risks of birth defects.

The baby is also more likely to have poor lung development, asthma and respiratory infections, intellectual development deficiency, increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), behavioural problems and physical growth deficiency.