ho had smoked while pregnant (33% of the sample) had a greater likelihood than non-smokers of experiencing placental abruption (relative risk, 2:1) and placenta previa (1:4),” (Hollander, 1997: 98).
While this study also researched uterine bleeding the origin of unknown uterine bleeding does not seem to be affected by smoking. Researchers originally thought it might be a form of placental abruption, but results did not support this hypothesis. However, where the significance to pregnant women is concerned it was found the number of cigarettes smoked daily had no affect on how likely the women were to suffer from either placental abruption or placenta previa, “The number of cigarettes smoked daily did not significantly affect either of these risks. Smokers were not at increased risk of bleeding of unknown cause, which suggests that this disorder is not a variant of placental abruption. The analysts calculate that it pregnant women refrained from smoking, 27% of placental abruption and 12% of placenta previa cases could be avoided,” (Hollander, 1997: 98).
One of the biggest physiological factors that affects the infant is low birth weight. Low birth weight is considered to be the “strongest predictor of both infant mortality and infant and child morbidity,” (Sable and Herman, 1997: 1). Infant mortality has been on the decline in the past decades, but our infant mortality rate and low birth weight statistics are still high in comparison to other developed countries. There are risk factors that have been uncovered as leading to low birth weight and smoking is one of the biggest of them, “Known risk factors for low birth weight are numerous and have been well documented. Behavioral risk factors include inadequate diet and nutrition, inadequate weight gain, cigarette smoking, use of illegal drugs, and inadequate prenatal care,” (Sable, et.al., 1997: 1).
Inadequate care during pregnancy is one of the biggest ...