Smoking and pregnancy

Smoking and pregnancy

Smoking during pregnancy is considered a dangerous habit that negatively affects the health of the mother and the fetus.

Studies have proven over decades that smoking during pregnancy leads to a number of complications:

- Miscarriages

- Death of the fetus inside the womb or immediately after birth

- Placental abruption during pregnancy, leading to severe bleeding

- Premature birth

- Low birth weight

- In the long term, it leads to poor neurological development in the child, endocrine problems in the child, and an increase in the percentage of tumors during childhood.

- Sudden infant death syndrome

- Poor academic performance of the child

What are the harmful substances in smoke?

- Nicotine

- Carbon Monoxide

- Many carcinogenic substances

- Heavy metals

- Tar

What is the effect of carbon monoxide on pregnancy?

Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin with greater affinity than oxygen…

- This prevents the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin

- Which prevents oxygen from reaching the placenta and fetus

This leads to poor fetal growth and increases the rate of premature birth

What is the effect of tar on pregnancy?

- It accumulates inside the respiratory tract of a pregnant woman and accumulates on the mucous membranes, leading to the mechanical destruction of the respiratory system.

- Toxic effect on the fetus, which limits the growth ability of the fetus (fetal growth restriction).

What is the effect of nicotine on pregnancy?

Nicotine is able to cross the placenta and reach the fetus directly.

- It binds to brain receptors in the fetus and directly affects the development of the fetal brain.

- When a child grows up, he is more likely to become a heavy smoker in the later stages of his life, and the risk of being addicted also increases.

Is it possible to stop smoking during pregnancy? Yes, the rate of stopping smoking during pregnancy is one of the highest.

What are the ways to help pregnant women quit smoking?

- Psychological and social interventions (encouragement and motivation, cognitive behavioral therapy, support groups, etc.)

 - Nicotine replacement therapy: where cigarette nicotine that contains toxic substances is replaced with pure nicotine substances free of the toxic elements found in cigarettes.

How can nicotine replacement therapy be used to stop smoking?

**It is known that nicotine is broken down in the liver. Therefore, taking nicotine through the digestive system/mucous membranes (chewing gum, pills and tabs, oral sprays, nasal sprays) reduces its bioavailability in the body.

**It is also possible to introduce it through the skin (nicotine patches), as nicotine enters the body through the skin at a very slow rate. In pregnancy, nicotine metabolism is increased, so that nicotine that enters slowly through the skin is quickly broken down before its level rises in the blood.

It is preferable to use nicotine replacement therapy as an adjunct to psychological and social interventions in order to increase the success rate.

Are there side effects of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy?

Studies have shown that it does not affect the growth of the fetus and does not increase the rate of premature birth.

There may be local side effects of nicotine patches, such as skin irritation.

What about the electronic cigarette and pregnancy?

 An electronic cigarette is a battery-powered device that heats water, propylene glycerin, nicotine, and a flavoring substance, and the mixture turns into a spray that the user inhales.

In this case, the percentage of nicotine in the blood is much higher than a regular cigarette and reaches peak at a faster rate.

 The electronic cigarette does not contain carbon monoxide or tar, and in some new types the device works to get rid of many carcinogenic substances.

It is believed that electronic cigarettes reduce the harmful effects of regular cigars by 95 percent.

Dr Najeeb Layyous F.R.C.O.G

Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist and Infertility Specialist

The electronic cigarette is one of the ways to help quit smoking.

To date, there are no studies on the effect of electronic cigarettes during pregnancy. Some may use them as an adjuvant treatment for psychological/social interactions and nicotine replacement therapy.