Two compounds of cigarette are especially harmful: nicotine and carbon monoxide. Studies have proved that these two toxins account for almost every smoking-related complication in pregnancy. The most serious complications, including stillbirth, premature delivery, and low birth weight are directly the cause of nicotine and carbon monoxide’s work .These two chemicals also cut off the supply of oxygen to the baby in the womb by narrowing blood vessels throughout the body, including the ones in the umbilical cord. To make matters worse, the red blood cells that carry oxygen start to pick up molecules of carbon monoxide instead.

A shortage of oxygen can have devastating effects on the baby’s growth and development. On average, smoking during pregnancy doubles the chances that a baby will be born too early or weigh less.

Every cigarette the woman smokes increases the risks to pregnancy. A smoker’s body is especially sensitive to the first doses of nicotine each day, and even just one or two cigarettes will significantly tighten blood vessels. That’s why even social or occasional smoking can have an outsize effect on the baby’s health.

Undersize babies tend to have underdeveloped bodies. Their lungs may not be ready to work on their own, which means they may spend their first days or weeks attached to a respirator. After they’re breathing on their own, these babies may have continuing breathing problems because of delayed lung development or other adverse effects of nicotine. Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are especially vulnerable to asthma, and have double or even triple the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Smoking during pregnancy can have lifelong effects on the baby’s brain. Children of pregnant smokers are especially likely to have learning disorders, behavioural problems, and relatively low IQs.

In spite of people being aware of the dangers of smoking, it’s not always easy to give up the habit. The pull of nicotine rules over the intentions and even overrides the love to the child. However, with the correct kind of aid and a strong will power to quit smoking, people have to get rid of the dangerous habit at once. After all, there’s somebody counting on the mother from the womb.