What is passive smoking?

Inhaling smoke from a cigarette that you have not lit up is passive smoking. It may either be the smoke from another smokers mouth or the smoke from the cigarette tip; either was it is extremely dangerous even more so for pregnant women. Smoking and passive smoking has a huge impact on the fetus.

In a year there are millions of babies born from mothers who have smoked while they were pregnant. These children have low birth weight, have poor immune systems and in many cases are born premature. The long term effects include diabetes, obesity and heart diseases. There are a number of still born or deaths immediately after death reported. Research shows a close connection between passive or active smoking and the infant deaths. Most children suffer from asthma due to exposure to smoke even before their birth.

What can you do to ensure that you and your child are safe?

Ideally, if you are an active smoker then you should quit smoking atleast 2 years before you conceive. This helps to clear your system of any traces of nicotine and tobacco that may harm your baby. If you are unable to quit then use a smoker’s patch that will help you out. Yoga and meditation help as well to get rid of this habit.

If you are constantly exposed to smoke, either at home or at the office then request people to move away from you while the puff away. At home request family members to smoke outside. Request your husband to use a mouth wash and wash his hands before he comes to bed at night to avoid breathing the traces of the smoke all night long. This will cause nausea and increase your morning sickness.

At the office you can hang polite ‘no smoking ‘signs to let people get the picture. Hang up pictures of babies smoking. It will arouse a lot of questions and you can then spread the word that you are trying to avoid smoke due to your condition. Your colleagues will be glad to oblige.