Smoking while Pregnant linked to Obesity in Children
For some time, we have known that when a pregnant woman smokes, there is a high risk for all sorts of poor birth outcomes and problems for infants: stillbirth, low-birthweight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and a variety of birth defects.
Now, a new risk has emerged from a number of research studies: Women who smoke during pregnancy also may increase the chance that their baby will become overweight or obese later in life. Children and adults who were exposed to cigarette smoke before they were born are more likely to be heavier than those who were never exposed to cigarette smoke. Even mothers who smoked early in their pregnancy, but quit when they learned they were pregnant, had children who were heavier than children of mothers who never smoked.
Overweight and obese children can have serious health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and sleep apnea. As overweight kids become overweight adults, these problems can lead to chronic illness, disability and even premature death.
So if you’re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, you have one more reason to stop smoking - your child’s weight and long-term health. Give your baby a healthy start and a healthy future – give up smoking now.