It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of ” miscarriage ” (miscarriage) and “delivery”. In the first case, this is a spontaneous abortion for up to 22 weeks, in the second – for a period of more than 37 weeks. One of the causes of miscarriage can be bad habits (smoking, alcohol, drugs). Children of women who smoke are most often born prematurely and have an increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Tobacco smoke that pregnant women inhale contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and other toxic substances that very easily penetrate the bloodstream and the placenta. Thus, they prevent the flow of oxygen to the fetus, affect the structure of the fetus and the functioning of the umbilical cord and placenta. Nicotine has a great influence on the work of the heart and the respiratory rhythm of the fetus.

Women who smoke are more likely to have spontaneous abortions than non-smokers. First names have an increased risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and they are also more likely to have a premature birth. The risk of fetal loss in women who smoke is from 20 to 50% (depending on the number of cigarettes smoked per day). Maternal smoking during pregnancy and infancy is a risk factor for the fetus or infant.

SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. It can occur in an already born child as a result of smoking parents. For example, in Denmark, the incidence of SIDS was 0.8% per 1000 infants. This frequency depends on the number of cigarettes that mom smoked during pregnancy. Smoking increases the risk of SIDS by 2.5 times. In the United States, the disease presents the following picture: 6,200 children die there every year. This is somehow related to smoking: 2800 children died due to lack of birth weight, 2000 SIDS due to second-hand smoke (mother or father smoked in the presence of the baby), 1100 respiratory infections, 250 fires due to not extinguished cigarettes or matches, 14 – asthma.

According to the American medical journal PEDIATRICS, it is known that from 40 to 60% of respiratory system diseases (asthma, bronchitis, enphysema , etc.) occur due to the action of second-hand tobacco smoke.