The Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Pregnant Women's Health

Hermina’s friends, Did you know that pregnant women should avoid inhaling cigarette smoke? Because the chemicals in cigarettes are harmful not only to those who smoke actively but also to passive smokers, or those who do not smoke but nevertheless breathe in smoke from those who do. In this instance, both the pregnant woman and the fetus she is carrying are in risk. Please keep in mind that cigarette smoke can linger in a space for up to 2.5 hours and adhere to anything there. Thousands of pollutants are breathed by pregnant women who smoke cigarettes, reaching the fetus in the womb. There are numerous harmful dangers that could affect:

1. There is a risk of premature birth
   Cigarette smoke has a risk of premature birth and respiratory problems in infants, because it can interfere with lung development. In addition, premature babies are very susceptible to disorders of the digestive tract, susceptible to infection, jaundice, nervous system disorders and bleeding in the blood vessels of the brain.
2. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
   SIDS generally occurs in infants younger than 1 year of age. SIDS can cause a baby to die suddenly while sleeping, even though before it looks fine without any serious conditions that look dangerous. SIDS can occur because of an abnormality in the part of the baby's brain that regulates breathing or the baby's sleep conditions that can inhibit breathing.
3. Low Birth Weight 
   The content of cigarette smoke can cause hypoxia in the fetus and cause a decrease in umbilical blood flow, causing growth disorders in the fetus which have an impact on low birth weight (LBW) babies. The baby's weight in a normal birth is about 2.5 kg to 4 kg. A newborn's weight is said to be low if it is less than 2.5 kg. Babies with low body weight are at high risk for respiratory problems, easy infections, and low blood sugar levels, autism, and birth defects.
4. Miscarriage
   The danger of cigarette smoke is very dangerous because it can increase the risk of miscarriage, because the content in cigarettes enters the bloodstream of pregnant women and fetuses. In addition, it will inhibit the growth and development of the fetus, causing genetic disorders or birth defects.

Friends of Hermina, Pregnant women who often smoke either active smokers or passive smokers also have bad effects such as:

1. Premature rupture of membranes / in the womb that is still very young. There are studies that pregnant women who are exposed to cigarette smoke increase the incidence of premature rupture of membranes.
2. The presence of disorders of the placenta, such as separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before birth (placental abruption), the placenta blocking the birth canal (placenta previa), or decreased function of the placenta (placental insufficiency).

Hermina’s friend, during pregnancy try to avoid cigarette smoke from exposure to the surrounding environment. Because cigarette smoke has many bad effects, it can even stick to objects around it for up to 2.5 hours. If you have been exposed to it frequently, don't hesitate to consult the obstetrical health of Hermina’s friend with our obstetrician at Hermina Galaxy Hospital. Make doctor appointments easier through the Halo Hermina application and through our call center at 1500488.