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The multi-national tobacco companies should continue to receive the utter scorn of the worlds population as science has revealed their product and practices border on the criminal. Without going into to much detail take a look at what happens from the production of cigarettes through to the toxic chemical created and released by the burning process and maybe you will begin to understand what the act of smoking is actually doing to your body.

Taking it one step further, consider what the effects of smoking during pregnancy are on both the mother and the child.  The effects range from mild to very extreme.  Also, the effects of smoking during pregnancy, has negative repercussions not only on the baby but has continual implications through childhood and possibly into adulthood.

Complications in the Mother

The complications that they mother may experience because of the effects of smoking during pregnancy are as follows:
1. The mother can be hospitalized due to excessive vomiting.
2. Develop urinary tract infections,
3. Have an ectopic pregnancy, which is when the fertilized egg does not grow in the correct place.
4. The placenta can separate from the uterine wall before delivery or there can be too much amniotic fluid. 

These complications can occur both during pregnancy and delivery.

Since the effects of smoking during pregnancy can cause the mother to have a miscarriage or a stillbirth, psychological problems, such as depression, can arise.  Finally, death of the mother can occur due to hemorrhage during childbirth.

Complications in the Child

The effects of smoking during pregnancy on a child can be assigned into four categories.  The four categories are:
1. Size of the baby,
2. Genetic abnormalities,
3. Illnesses possibly developed later in childhood,
4. Death.

The size of the newborn is greatly altered due to smoking for two reasons. 
1. Preterm delivery. 
2. Size is altered because rather than nutrients crossing the placenta, chemicals such as nicotine and carbon monoxide reach the baby.  Without the nutrients, the baby is thus often underweight, which increase his or her chances of becoming ill. 

The effects of smoking during pregnancy can also cause genetic abnormalities,  Such as cleft lip and cleft palate.  Also, bowel problems can be experienced.  Other abnormalities can occur in sensory systems such as the eyes and ears.  More severe consequences are also seen.  These include spinal cord problems, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation.

Consider your actions very carefully, do you want to risk the health of your unborn child?

Consequences can also develop later in childhood.

In early childhood, respiratory problems, such as asthma, can be seen.  Also, behavior disorders often develop in toddlers.  The worst consequence of the effects of smoking during pregnancy is sudden infant death syndrome, which is also known as SIDS.

The consequences can be seen in adolescents, which include increased likelihood of smoking themselves. 

The effects of smoking during pregnancy is a major issue that women, men, parents, and children have to deal with.  The effects of smoking during pregnancy have far reaching repercussions for the mother, fetus, baby, toddler child and adolescent  I hope that all parents to be take this information on board and act accordingly with the wellbeing of their newborn in mind.

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