Cigarettes are highly addictive, and whether you know it or not, they rule your life in many ways. You probably think about them almost constantly, and you're willing to put your life at risk to have them even if you don't admit to it.
However, every woman who smokes can also become pregnant. If you continue to smoke throughout your pregnancy, you risk harming the child in your womb. Before you became pregnant, you were only harming yourself, but now you're responsible for the life growing inside you too.
If you smoke during pregnancy, you are more likely to birth a child who is underweight.Low birth weight babies are at greater risk for childhood and adult illnesses and even death. Babies of smokers have less muscle mass and more fat than babies of nonsmokers The child is also more likely to develop respiratory problems later in life.
After the child is born, it doesn't get any better. Infants eighteen months and younger who have second hand smoke surrounding them in their houses are responsible for up to three hundred thousand cases of pneumonia and bronchitis.
Babies exposed to secondhand smoke after birth have double the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Babies whose mothers smoke before and after birth are three to four times more likely to die from SIDS.
Smoking is responsible for raising the chances of getting lung cancer, and other types of cancer. If you smoke near your child, you raise their chances of getting all sorts health problems.
Not only are the health risks a huge concern, but smoking can also cause all sorts of other problems as well.
For instance, you could accidentally fall asleep with a smoke in your hand and burn your house down. It doesn't sound likely, I know, but it happens several times a year across North America.
You could flick your cigarette away and have your baby step on it, burning their foot. You're first reaction might be to give them crap for not wearing shoes, but it would really be your fault.
Your child could find the lighter and burn themselves or worse, burn your house down. Maybe they figure out how to light the cigarette themselves, and decide to try and smoke like Mommy.
Remember, everything you do, is an example to your children. Is smoking really the kind of example you want to set?
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You should protect your skin from the sun by staying out of it when it is hot and also by using a sunscreen of at least SPF15. Some moms-to-be develop a pregnancy mask which is a darkening of the skin around the mouth, nose and forehead which worsens when exposed to the sun.
Dry skin and pregnancy are another common combination that calls for extra moisturizing to get rid of the dryness and the accompanying itch. The moisturizing cream will help with the dry skin, however, you should seek your doctor's advice regarding anti-itch lotions which may be required to alleviate itchy skin during pregnancy.
Using a water- based moisturizer will help pregnant women who suffer from greasy skin. As there is no treatment, it is best to keep the skin moisturized with cocoa butter as it helps minimize the development of stretch marks.
It is advisable to perform the following skin care routines during pregnancy in order to avoid pregnancy skin problems:
Cleanse your face twice daily in order to keep pores unclogged and to help with acne. However, regular acne medication should not be used during pregnancy.
Do not use soaps, which will remove oils and make the skin even drier. Due to the sensitivity of the skin, use products labeled as being non-comedogenic. Don't forget your feet, which are often neglected, especially if you suffer from gestational diabetes. Don't forget to drink adequate amounts of water. Taking long baths should be avoided, as they will make dry skin even drier.
Most importantly, make sure you rest as much as possible as sleep restores the skin. While it is very important to maintain the skin care routine during pregnancy, expectant mothers must always ensure that the products being used will not harm the unborn baby.
Pregnancies can be very stressful and this is mostly shown on the skin of the woman. She can have dark circles under the eyes, varicose veins, acne, brown patches on the skin and also loss of collagen and elastin.
While pregnant, be aware of the special needs and requirements of your body and skin. Special care should be taken of your condition. Listen to your body. One of the most common skin problems faced by expectant mothers is stretch marks. Most women worry about stretch marks, which become visible during the latter part of the pregnancy or after birth. Almost all expectant mothers have stretch marks which are mostly visible on the lower abdomen, hips, thighs, breasts and arms.
Stretch marks appear on the body in different colors depending on the race of the expectant mother. For example if women have a light skin color the stretch mark is pinkish and in dark skinned women they seem to be lighter than the surrounding areas of the stretch marks. Unfortunately, there is no remedy for stretch marks other than to apply some medicated lotions on the effected areas.
It is unfortunately very likely that you will suffer from some form of pregnancy skin problem but a good skin care routine with safe and tested products will help you keep your skin in the best condition that is possible.
Both Mike Durand & Chris Towland are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mike Durand has sinced written about articles on various topics from Quit Smoking, Public Speaking and Health. Striving to Create a Happier Healthier Life by helping people make the decision to stop smokingCopyright 2006 T&M Sales. Mike Durand's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
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