For having a smooth and trouble-free pregnancy and healthy baby, women are recommended to abstain from smoking. According to a CDC report, about 14 percent of women in the United States continue smoking even after getting pregnant.
To help women- pregnant or preparing for pregnancy- quit their smoking habit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada has launched a new website Pregnets (Prevention of Gestational and Neonatal Exposure to Tobacco Smoke).
The website is designed in such a manner that it will come handy both for healthcare providers and women.
The healthcare providers section includes current literature review on smoking trends among women, and a tool kit available for download.
A discussion board on the website will help the women to build a community of support with other women. Apart from that, it also includes a personalized quit meter, a wide range of self help materials and other tips that help women during pregnancy.
"We know what negative effects exposure to nicotine can have, but we also know that smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to break," Dr. Peter Selby, Clinical Director of Addiction Programs at CAMH, said in a statement.
"Stigma around smoking during pregnancy can deter women from seeking treatment. PREGNETS offers a woman-centered approach that emphasizes support instead of guilt or shame. It was also important that we create a support tool that was accessible to women in their homes."
Smoking during pregnancy brings many health problems for the child. Premature birth, low birth weight, cot death, asthma, infections, still birth, and autism are some of the risks.
The following are some of the risks from CDC associated with smoking before or during pregnancy:
Smoking reduces the chances to get pregnant
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk associated with premature birth.
Smoking poses problems for placenta - it can separate from the uterus too early causing bleeding
Escalate the chances to have babies with birth defects, like cleft lip or cleft palate
Smoking prior to and after birth is one of the important factor leading to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
