How does smoking affect pregnancy in the first trimester?
Hello to the new mom-to-be in town!
First of all, Congratulations on getting your pregnancy test positive. This is the best thing that can happen to a woman and a couple, too!
The First Trimester would feel like a cyclone, wouldn’t it?
Learning to juggle between the constant morning sickness with nausea and crazy yet weird food cravings while still trying to believe the fact that you are growing a human inside you?
Trying to adjust to all the new things surrounding your Pregnancy can cause loads of stress and make you reach out to cigarettes, especially when it’s your usual stress reliever.
But you need to pause before you do that, New mom!
All of us know that smoking isn’t good for our health. It’s the worst you can do to yourself. And now that you have got a tiny human being inside you, it’s extremely important to break free from this dangerous yet deadly habit. Smoking in Pregnancy is extremely harmful.
Now, before you start panicking about those cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms that come with quitting smoking, don’t worry; we can help you ditch tobacco naturally.
Yes, you heard it right! We are talking about quitting smoking without relying on traditional methods such as NRT, patches, gums, etc.
And let us tell you another secret: Quitting smoking is more about having strong willpower and a fixed mindset.
When you understand the impact of smoking on your baby, you get more dedicated to leaving this habit.
And with us by your side, you need to worry.
So, hang in there, New Mom to be. It’s time to dive deep into the world of smoke-free Pregnancy without the risk of cigarettes affecting your baby.
All set? Let’s go!
How does smoking affect Pregnancy in the first trimester?
Cigarettes contain numerous harmful chemicals, over 7,000 to be precise. That means when you smoke, these toxic chemicals enter your bloodstream and are passed to the placenta. In case you don’t know, The placenta is the most important organ that nourishes your baby by passing on oxygen and nutrients to your little one. However, the placenta is unable to filter out harmful substances, and thus, cigarette chemicals also reach your baby.
The first trimester is the most critical time for both the mother and the baby. This is when your baby’s major organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain, etc., are forming. Exposing yourself and your baby to smoke hinders this delicate process, which in turn harms your baby and increases the risk of complications such as –
1. Miscarriage
Smoking drastically increases the chances of miscarriage, i.e., the unexpected yet fatal loss of your baby in the first 3 months of Pregnancy. The toxic chemicals in cigarettes are known to damage your developing embryo, which hampers its ability to impart itself properly in the uterus.
2. Birth Defects
As mentioned, your baby grows in these 9 months, especially in the first trimester. Smoking can cause congenital disabilities and affect heart development, brain function, limb formation, etc.
3. Placental Problems
Smoking drastically lowers blood flow to the placenta, which in turn holds the transfer of oxygen and nutrients to your little one. All this, in turn, leads to restricted fetus growth along with problems with your placenta, such as placental abruption and placenta previa.
The Journey and Power to Quit Smoking
Do you know what the good news is? No matter at what stage of Pregnancy you quit smoking, there are still advantages to doing so. You should also pay attention to passive smoking. There are side effects of passive smoking in pregnancy as well.
To help you understand better, passive smoking is when you don’t smoke yourself but still inhale smoke due to other people who might smoke in your surroundings.
Let us have a look at what happens when you quit smoking –
1. Lowered Risk of Miscarriage:
The moment you quit smoking, you reduce your chances of having a miscarriage.
2. Improved Foetus Growth:
When you stop smoking, you inhale oxygen with no harmful chemicals, which promotes the healthy growth and development of your baby.
3. Reduced Risk of Premature Birth –
Quitting smoking lowers the risk of premature birth and also gives them more time to develop in these 9 months inside your womb.
How do you quit smoking naturally?
By reading the title above, a lot of you might think that it is impossible to leave the smoking habit naturally. But, as mentioned above, to quit smoking naturally, all that you need is strong willpower with some techniques to help you do it.
Let’s take a quick look at how can you quit smoking naturally –
1. Build a Strong Mindset
As mentioned, multiple times in the blog already, building a strong mindset is the first step to quitting smoking. This can be done better by imagining yourself as a nonsmoker inhaling the optimal amount of oxygen, which makes your baby happy and helps them grow well and on time.
2. Mindfulness is the Key
Mindful is the art of staying attentive in the present moment. Mindfulness techniques like meditation, breathing exercises, etc., help you become more aware of your surroundings, recognize your smoke triggers, and manage your cravings well.
3. Physical Exercise to the Rescue
Exercise acts as your most powerful weapon when it comes to your fight with Nicotine Addiction. And yes, you can try light exercises with your doctor’s assistance during Pregnancy, too! It releases endorphins, which elevate your mood, and being happy is the best thing for a New Mumma!
When walking on the path to quit smoking, always remember that you aren’t alone in this journey. There are a lot of other people, especially fellow-to-be moms, who are on the same journey as you.
Conclusion
Quitting smoking can be a tough yet challenging journey, but the outcomes are unmeasured yet priceless. As a new mom-to-be, you give your baby the gift of health, minimize the risk of complications, and create a smoke-free environment for your family. The first trimester is an extremely crucial time, and a lot of care needs to be taken. By quitting smoking, you move towards a healthy Pregnancy and a safe yet healthy future for your child.
