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Finding out that I was pregnant was the determining factor that made me give up smoking. I had heard of the many side effects that smoking could have on a baby. Being that I am a nurse, I knew that smoking was unhealthy for me regardless of if I were pregnant or not. I knew that I had an addiction and there had to be an end put to it.

I wanted to just throw the pack of cigarettes away and never look back, but it was a little harder than what I thought. I started cutting back one cigarette each day. When I was down to one or two a day, I knew that I could give it up altogether. I had completely stopped smoking by my second month of pregnancy. My daughter was born healthy and had no side effects from the smoking. I know that I gave her a healthier start in life by quitting. Yes, it was very hard to do but she was worth it.

Many women do not know what effects smoking can have on a newborn. According to the United States Public Health Service, there would be an 11 percent reduction in stillbirths and a 5 percent decrease in newborn deaths if all women stopped smoking while they were pregnant. Stopping during the first trimester decreases the risk of complications but stopping at any point will help the baby grow healthier.

The most common side effects of smoking while pregnant are low birth weights, premature delivery, miscarriage and stillborn death. Premature babies and low birth weight babies have an increased risk for serious health problems. The baby can suffer from asthma, frequent ear infections and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Birth defects that may be increased when the mother smokes include: cleft lip, cleft palate, clubfoot, limb defects and some types of heart defects. Babies whom mothers smoked while pregnant are three times more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) than with babies from nonsmoking mothers.

There are many resources available for mothers that are looking for help to quit smoking. Check with you health care provider for any local support organizations that are available. Browse the Internet for information on tips to quit smoking. There are thousands of sites with very informative information that just might be the information you need to make your decision to quit.

When the hard task of actually quitting is over, you will be grateful that you gave your baby a chance at a healthy life just as I did. It will be the best decision that you could ever make for your health also. Put that extra three or four dollars in a piggy bank and save it for your whole pregnancy. You will be amazed at how much you saved, this could be the start of a college fund. The sooner you start saving, the better off your child will be. Just like the sooner you stop smoking, preferably before you get pregnant, the better off your baby will be.

Learn more about this author, Jen Bonds.
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