Pregnancy

Here are definitions of medical terms related to smoking, alcohol, and pregnancy: Binge drinking: Typically defined as having 5 or more drinks within one day. Carbon monoxide: Poisonous gas found in cigarette smoke; can displace oxygen from hemoglobin and thus reduce the bloods ability to carry oxygen to the cells. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS): Collection of defects including

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on smoking, alcohol, and pregnancy: American Lung Association  Phone: 212-315-8700 http://www.lungusa.org The American Lung Association offers a variety of smoking control and prevention programs, along with information about the risks associated with cigarette smoking. American Cancer Society  Phone: 1-800-ACS-2345 http://www.cancer.org The American Cancer Society offers

Cigarette smoke and alcohol can damage the health of unborn babies. Smoking by pregnant women is associated with low birthweight and premature birth, as well as higher rates of illness (colds, bronchitis, ear infections, etc.), breathing problems, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in their babies. Birth defects of the heart, brain, and face are

In 2000, 12.2% of mothers reported having smoked during pregnancy. This means that smoking is the most common addiction among pregnant women in the U.S. In fact, only 20% of women who smoke quit during a pregnancy. It is not uncommon for smokers to reduce their use of cigarettes during pregnancy, but reducing the number

People drink alcohol for a variety of reasons-social pressure, as a means of reducing stress and emotional upset, addiction-and these reasons don’t go away when a woman becomes pregnant. So even though the knowledge about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy has increased in recent years, the use of alcohol among pregnant women is still