Take good care of baby`s heart
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More and more evidence is showing up as to how Mommy`s smoking habits affect Baby. This latest report hits where it hurts – Baby`s heart.
American researchers found evidence that there is a link between smoking DURING and even BEFORE the first trimester of pregnancy and congenital heart defects. These heart defects are affecting 10 out of every 1000 American babies and babies of smoking moms.
The study classified 7000 mommies based on their smoking habits as follows:
• Non-smokers
• Light smokers (14 cigarettes a day max)
• Moderate smokers (15-24 cigarettes a day)
• Heavy smokers (25 or more cigarettes per day).
Based on these categories, the incidence of heart defects in the babies was then checked.
Results: Heavy smokers have double the risk of having babies with a hole in the septum dividing the left and right heart chambers, moderate smokers have 50% higher likelihood and light smokers have 44% higher likelihood compared to non-smoking mommies.
Other types of heart defects also occur more frequently in babies of smoking moms than in those of non-smoking moms.
So if you are thinking of getting pregnant, please avoid cigarettes. It`s baby`s heart that is at stake.
Sources:
Malik et al. Maternal Smoking and Congenital Heart Defects. PEDIATRICS Vol. 121 No. 4 April 2008, pp. e810-e816.
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