Source: www.PRWeb.com

Norwalk and Danbury, CT (PRWEB) — Experts agree that recurrent pregnancy loss — experienced by one in every 100 women trying to conceive — can trigger a host of other health issues for their patients, including stress-induced physical symptoms and even clinical depression. But what is triggering the repeat miscarriages themselves?

Current research has identified three serious medical conditions, all of which can be diagnosed with simple blood tests. If the diagnosis is positive and the conditions are treated, they may help solve the puzzle of recurrent pregnancy loss for some women — and improve their long-term overall health as well.

“The connection between general health and a couple’s ability to achieve a healthy pregnancy is well-documented, and that connection is being strengthened every day through the study of infertility,” notes Dr. Mark Leondires, M.D., Medical Director at Reproductive Medicine Associates of CT and a leading authority on reproductive medicine.

Today, treating patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, defined as the miscarriage of three consecutive pregnancies, often takes a comprehensive view of their overall health as well as reproductive health.

“With the newest research, we are able to identify medical issues outside the traditional realm of the reproductive system, not only in order to increase the patients’ chances of conceiving,
but also in order to improve their overall health, which is very gratifying,” he adds.

Perhaps the most surprising medical condition to be linked with recurrent pregnancy loss is thrombophilia, a condition affecting about 5% of Americans that causes abnormal formation of blood clots in the bloodstream. “Thrombophilia may be a culprit in a large number of recurrent pregnancy loss cases, because the abnormal clotting can prevent the proper development of the placenta itself, or restrict blood flow within it, both of which can cause miscarriage,” Dr. Leondires explains. What’s more, Dr. Leondires says, thrombophilia puts a woman at greater risk for developing a blood clot that can cause a stroke or heart attack. “Once diagnosed, thrombophilia can be treated with blood thinners — sometimes even aspirin — to improve the patient’s chances of conceiving and to reduce the risk of these major adverse health events,” he adds.

Another medical condition that may be at the root of some recurrent pregnancy loss cases is autoimmune disorder. Within this class of 80+ different conditions ranging from fibromyalgia and lupus to hypothyroiditis and multiple sclerosis, approximately 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women of childbearing age. “Just as autoimmune disorders can cause the body’s natural immune defenses to attack its own organs, they can also cause the immune system to attack a pregnancy as something foreign in the body, causing repeat pregnancy loss,” Dr. Leondires points out. Autoimmune disorder is a chronic condition which, when diagnosed and treated effectively, can be managed to improve a patient’s health, longevity, and chances for conception.

Finally, patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – estimated to affect about one in ten women of childbearing age – are at increased risk for experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss, as well as for developing heart disease. “PCOS is a condition caused by a hormone imbalance; since near-perfect hormone balance is required for a successful pregnancy, PCOS can be a key factor in recurrent pregnancy loss,” explains Dr. Leondires. “What’s more, these imbalances can also lead to irregular menstruation, the development of skin conditions like acne, the growth of cysts on the ovaries, obesity and hypertension,” he notes.

The combination of obesity and high blood pressure, if not treated, can cause cardiovascular problems. “Even if a patient with undiagnosed PCOS becomes pregnant, the disease can also cause gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, two pregnancy-related conditions that are dangerous to mother and baby,” Dr. Leondires points out. The good news is that numerous effective PCOS treatment regimens involving hormone therapy have been developed over the past decade or so, and many patients have been able to overcome the condition to achieve a healthy pregnancy and a healthier body.

Dr. Leondires encourages women who have already been diagnosed with any of these conditions to work with a reproductive specialist as soon as they decide to become pregnant. For women who have not been diagnosed, but who experience three successive miscarriages, Dr. Leondires recommends consulting with an infertility specialist to discuss possible underlying medical causes. However, he stresses that many other factors can contribute to recurrent pregnancy loss.

“Women need to know that a variety of other issues, from chromosomal abnormalities to structural problems in the reproductive organs, can trigger recurrent pregnancy loss,” he advises. “A full infertility examination will provide the answers patients need, both for a healthy conception and a healthier body,” Dr. Leondires concludes.

Bio:
Dr. Mark P. Leondires, M.D., FACOG, is a leading authority on reproductive medicine. Dr. Leondires is board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a member of the Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Leondires earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. Dr. Leondires completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. After completion of his training, he fulfilled his military obligation by serving as the ART Director for the largest and most successful program in the military health care system at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. During this time he was an Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and
clinical faculty for the Combined Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology. Dr. Leondires is currently Medical Director and lead physician with Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMA-CT) in Norwalk. Along with numerous teaching and research activities, Dr. Leondires has published articles in professional medical journals, national consumer magazines and newspapers, as well as abstracts and book chapters. More information about Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut is available at http://www.blogger.com/www.rmact.com.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/cayusa/364283235/

A developing fetus is highly susceptible to outside influences. Most people know for example, that smoking and drinking can have serious adverse effects on a fetus, some permanent. Unfortunately many women are not as aware of the effects of common household chemicals and how they can affect not only their baby but even their great, great grandchildren.

What can affect a fetus? There is very little that a pregnant women consumes, breathes, or slathers on her skin that will not affect her fetus in one way or another. Some chemicals are clearly dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. An excellent starting point for a pregnant woman is to consider how natural a substance is. If something grew out of the ground it is quite likely safer than something developed in a lab. There are obviously exceptions to this rule such as poisonous mushrooms and certain herbs but for the most part it holds true.

The hard part is not determining what is safe as much as what is unsafe during pregnancy. Many substances have never been tested on pregnant women and their unborn children so the truth is, you may never know what is safe and what is not. So as a conscientious mother you may choose to err on the side of caution and avoid substances that may potentially be harmful to your baby. This is not feasible all the time but it is certainly worth the attempt.

What is potentially harmful to a fetus?

DRUGS & CHEMICALS
First you should evaluate all drug use including prescription, OTC, and illegal. The FDA has Use-In-Pregnancy ratings for drugs based on their known or unknown dangers. Perinatology.com has a fairly comprehensive list of prescription drugs, vaccines and illegal drugs and includes the class and the potential effects on a fetus or newborn.

What chemicals should you avoid if you are pregnant? Honestly, all of them. Some are clearly more toxic to your fetus than others and some may be totally safe but nobody knows for sure. Some of the dangerous chemicals which are proven to cause miscarriage, birth defects, developmental problems, and stillbirth are:

Pesticides, phthalates (found in some plastics, cosmetics, and bath products), paint, carpet, nail polish, gasoline fumes, routine dental procedures, some household cleaning products, polyurethane foam, hair dyes, and tap water (which can contain fluoride & chlorine). Read Pollution in Newborns by the Environmental Working Group to learn more.

You shuold also research your skin and hair care products at skindeep.org. The almost 15,000 beauty products in the Skin Deep database will tell you not only the safety rating of your products but what questionable chemicals your favorite beauty products contain. Skin Deep provides brand by brand comparisons and safety ratings. Search by product name, product type, brand, or even look up the highest concern brands. They will even give you a personalized shopping list of the safest beauty products.

PRENATAL TESTING (prenatal “scare”)
Additionally, prenatal testing carries inherent risks and potential benefits which must be weighed by each couple. In many cases the testing is totally unnecessary and can even result in miscarriage. What is the answer? Educate yourself. Thoroughly research prenatal tests prior to agreeing to them. The Center for Unhindered Living has a number of articles explaining the pros and cons of Ultrasound, Dopplers, Alpha Fetoprotein Test, Glucose Tolerance Test, Amniocentesis, Chorionic Villus Sampling, and Prenatal Rhogam.

If the test is not absolutely necessary then you have the right to refuse to have it done because it could potentially jeopardize your unborn child. Only you can decide if a test is necessary or not based on your physician’s advice, your research, and your instincts. Please do not take a “medical professionals” word for it. As a responsible adult do some research first.

Nutrition, exercise, and mental health.
Proper nutrition means avoiding processed foods, sugar, commercial meat and dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, among others. Soy, wheat, sugar, and caffeine should be avoided.

There are so many books available about pregnancy nutrition and if you need a bit of guidance then by all means get a book. Dr. William Sears has a great page on prenatal nutrition as well. In addition to avoiding negative food items, you need to accentuate the positive. Certain vitamins and minerals are vital to a healthy pregnancy. The RDA of most vitamins and minerals increases substantially during pregnancy. Folic Acid, calcium, and iron are essential. Organic produce should be your best friend. If this is all new to you then you are probably overwhelmed and confused. If you are committed though, making sensible food choices will be second nature in no time.

Lack of exercise generally will not result in direct harm to your baby but it will make your pregnancy and labor substantially more difficult. The increased blood flow from regular exercise will enhance your child’s development and some studies link prenatal fitness with increased apgar scores and mental development. A walking routine or prenatal yoga course is ideal. You certainly do not want to overdo and many fitness routines need to be modified for pregnancy. The key is to avoid inactivity and increase blood flow. So whatever you do, get off the couch and get moving.

Finally, if you are seeking a natural pregnancy, it is very important to avoid stress. Stress has been linked to miscarriage, autism, and other many other fetal developmental problems. Unfortunately it is unlikely you can quit your job and move to an island for nine months so you need to play the cards you have been dealt. In other word if you are prone to stress you can learn to identify your stress triggers and avoid stressful situations. You can also learn how to handle stressful situations once you are in them.

Both meditation and yoga are proven, fabulous ways of lowering stress levels. Counseling may also help with current stressors in your life. Even a ten minute walk has been proven to reduce stress levels considerably. In any event, please do not resort to drugs or alcohol which don’t reduce stress, they only numb you temporarily and they will certainly cause harm to your child.

You may also want to try other stress reducing techniques include biofeedback, EFT, or a mantra such as “This too will pass”. And never underestimate the value of a good friend or family member that you can call if things get rough.

If you are committed to an organic pregnancy you can certainly do it. Having a partner and family who support your decision will certainly help but even without their help you are certainly capable of trusting your instincts and standing your ground. Your body and your baby will thank you.

Image source: http://flickr.com/photos/jstar/1280611861/

Miscarriage by definition is a pregnancy that spontaneously aborts or terminates and always means that the fetus is unable to survive outside of the womb. Once a fetus becomes “viable” usually after the 20th week or so, early delivery is usually termed preterm labor and all efforts are made to save the baby.

By: Nilutpal Gogoi

Spontaneous abortion or miscarriage can happen due to two main reasons. Miscarriage may occur if the mother has a physical condition or suffers an extreme injury that will not allow the pregnancy to continue to term. Miscarriage can also happen if the fetus fails to develop as it should within the womb. Repeated miscarriage can reduce the likelihood of a woman carrying to term in future pregnancies.

When Do Most Miscarriages Happen?
The vast majority of miscarriages take place during the first three weeks of pregnancy, before many women even realize they are pregnant. Some also happen between the fourth to 12th weeks of pregnancies. Medical researches have ascertained that miscarriages account for approximately 15-25% of all pregnancies.

Why Do Miscarriages Happen?
Some women have a natural tendency to miscarry for a variety of reasons including health conditions, prescription or illicit drug use, smoking, nutritional deficiencies or even being hostile to “foreign DNA” from the baby’s father. Multiple miscarriages reduce the likelihood of carrying future pregnancies to term so it is best to seek the advice of a professional if you have suffered more than one miscarriage.

If you experience any or all of these symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor or a medical facility to evaluate if you could be having a miscarriage:

• Mild to severe back pain (often worse than normal menstrual cramps)
• Weight loss
• White-pink mucus
• True contractions (very painful happening every 5-20 minutes)
• Brown or bright red bleeding with or without cramps (20-30% of all pregnancies can experience some bleeding in early pregnancy, with about 50% of those resulting in normal pregnancies)
• Tissue with clot like material passing from the vagina
• Sudden decrease in signs of pregnancy - Americanpregnancy.org

Causes of Miscarriage
Miscarriages happen for many reasons. 50 per cent of the miscarriages have been attributed to either or both the unnatural development of the placental issue or of the embryo. These abnormalities can be due to three main reasons:

• Faulty sperm or egg cells (germ cells)
• Defective budding of the fertilized egg
• Other maternal problems such as psychological shocks including acute trauma or/and anxiety, diabetes and other systemic diseases like those of the kidney (nephritis).

Premature expulsion of the fetus can also take place also due to malfunctions of the uterine tract, the presence of cancerous tumors or specific health conditions in the mother such as toxemia or fifth disease.

Toxemia
Toxemia is an extremely serious condition which can result in the death of both the mother and the baby and it usually occurs late in pregnancy. Toxemia can degenerate into seizures, coma or death. The symptoms of preeclampsia (which leads to toxemia) are presence of protein in urine, excessive swelling (edema), rapid weight gain and high blood pressure. If severe toxemia happens, doctors generally opt for immediate deliveries to save both the child and the mother. Toxemia is cured automatically with birth.

Fifth Disease
Fifth disease is caused by parvovirus B19 and it can also lead to miscarriage. Though Fifth Disease generally affects children, it can happen in adults too, including pregnant women. Its effects are arthritis and joint pains and the most vulnerable adults are those who suffer from sickle cell anemia.

In most cases, there are no serious complications for an expectant woman who has fifth disease, and her unborn baby usually has no problems. In rare cases, however, fifth disease during pregnancy can cause the unborn baby to have severe anemia and may cause the woman to have a miscarriage. There is no universally recommended approach to monitor a woman dealing with both fifth disease and pregnancy; however, some healthcare providers may increase the frequency of doctor’s visits and perform tests (such as blood tests and ultrasound examinations) to monitor the health of the baby. Kids.emedtv.com

When Termination of Pregnancy Becomes Necessary
There is a vast difference between the connotations of the two terms: miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) and induced abortion. While the former happens naturally, the latter is carried out artificially. Induced abortions are brought on deliberately.

Periodically, a pregnancy has to be terminated intentionally simply because the pregnancy may be life threatening to the mother, the baby or both. If the fetus is mature enough then all efforts will be made to help the infant survive. Sometimes a pregnancy is intentionally terminated because the fetus died in utero and did not deliver naturally. If the pregnancy is less than seven weeks along then a chemical abortion may be performed. Terminations that happen later in pregnancy have to be performed surgically and they are commonly known as a D&C.

Mifeorustone & Chemical Abortions
If chemical abortion is chosen as an alternative to surgical abortions in the first seven pregnancy weeks, then many doctors prescribe Mifepristone or RU-486 to the patients to induce abortions. Nonetheless, chemical abortions cannot be possible if the pregnancy has entered the seventh week. On the other hand, surgical abortions can be done faster. They are completed in two visits to the hospital and do not pose problems in future pregnancies.

Miscarriage Treatment
The generally prescribed treatment to avert threatened miscarriages is bed rest. In cases of repeated miscarriages, total bed rest for the entire pregnancy term becomes indispensable. Often, hormone and vitamin therapy is also suggested. In extreme cases, the patient may even have to undergo surgeries to correct the uterine or cervical abnormalities.

Coping with Miscarriage
It is important to allow yourself time and space to grieve if you have suffered a miscarriage. Many people on the “outside” have no idea what you are going through and may make insensitive or even cruel remarks. If you lose a child, that pain will be with you forever, no matter how far along you were. Many women find internet support groups very helpful and will place banners and tributes to their “angels” online. Other women may plant a flower garden, create a memorial or have some sort of service to mark the passing of the child they will never hold.

Buy the Book: Something Happened: A book for children and parents who have experienced pregnancy loss.

About the author:
Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published more than 1000 articles and a popular adventure book for children. For more information log on to
http://www.wellbeingwork.com/ http://www.awellnesshealth.com/
http://www.abouthealthonline.com/

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/_f1guy68_/1643679095/

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/leecullivan/102377601/

While you are pregnant, you should be careful about using spas or hot tubs. During pregnancy, there are always risks of harming your fetus if you overextend your time in a hot tub or even in a hot bath for that matter. As a rule of thumb you should never enter a hot tub during your first trimester, specifically for the first 28 days (when you may not even know you are pregnant unfortunately).

During this crucial period when the spine is forming, temperatures over 100 degrees have been shown to cause neural tube defects and possibly increase your risk of miscarriage. After your first trimester is over however, you should be able to use a hot tub quite safely. While the risk of hurting your baby via hot tub is minimal at this stage, you should still take some precautions.

When using a hot tub during pregnancy, you should make sure that the water is not too hot. This may sound funny because the very name of it is a hot tub, but you should never over heat your baby. This is much easier if you have a private hot tub. The hot tubs that are found in swimming pools always tend to be over heated. So if you have a hot tub at your house, lower the temperature a few hours prior to getting in. This can still be relaxing and enjoyable without being scorching hot. Many pregnant women use hot tubs in this fashion because they are still getting the benefits of the jets massaging their legs and back, but instead of being in hot water, they are being refreshed by cooler water.

You will also want to make sure that the water is extremely clean before you enter it. Any types of bacteria or virus’s in the water could cause infections and that is something you do not want to have to be dealing with during pregnancy.

Some people might say that it is fine to use a hot tub during at time of pregnancy and at any temperature. That is not information you want to be following. You should always make sure the water temperature is cool; anywhere under 100*F. You should also not use a hot tub in your first trimester, and always make sure the water is very clean. If you’re hot tub is not chlorinated, you should not enter it with anyone who is infected with any type of transferable illness.

by Barney Garcia
Author Barney Garcia is a proud contributing author and enjoys writing about many different topics. Visit his web sites @ http://www.hottubs-and-spas.info and
http://www.parenting-services.info/sitemap.html

Buy the Book: 1000 Questions About Your Pregnancy
Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/automania/74558847/

A miscarriage is the natural end of pregnancy when the developing embryo or fetus is less than 20 weeks old and incapable of surviving outside the womb. Miscarriages that occur less than six weeks after your last menstrual period are referred to as an ‘early pregnancy loss’, whereas miscarriages that occur after this point are termed ‘clinical spontaneous abortion’. If you are less than six weeks pregnant, you may not even realize you have been so, and may mistake the miscarriage for a heavy menstrual bleed.

More than three-quarters of all miscarriages occur in the first twelve weeks (also known as the first trimester) of your pregnancy. The causes of miscarriage in this first trimester are mostly because of chromosomal abnormalities. As expectant parents, you need to understand that such abnormalities occur at random and are unlikely to occur in future pregnancies. Sometimes a miscarriage in the first trimester can be due to a deficiency of the hormone progesterone. In future pregnancies, your doctor will prescribe a progesterone supplement to ensure your pregnancy proceeds as normal.

Miscarriages in the second trimester are generally related to problems with your uterus, placenta or cervix. Malformations in the umbilical cord can also cause a clinical spontaneous abortion.

While the large proportion of miscarriages are beyond your control, there are several risk factors for miscarriage. Among them are:

1. If you are pregnant with twins, there is a greater chance of early pregnancy loss.
2. If you are a diabetic who does not control your diabetes, there is a considerably heightened risk of miscarriage.
3. Cigarette smoking, whether by you or your partner, increases the chance that your baby may not make it to term.
4. Physical trauma, such as falls or blows, especially to your abdomen may also result in a miscarriage.
5. Excessive caffeine or alcohol intake, obesity and exposure to certain chemicals will also enhance the likelihood of miscarriage.

The most obvious sign of miscarriage is bleeding. If you notice unusual bleeding during your pregnancy, you will need to talk to your doctor, who may perform an ultrasound scan to visualize your developing baby. In many cases, when a miscarriage occurs, your doctor may wish to undertake a procedure known as a curette. A curette ensures that all the baby’s tissue is removed from your uterus, thereby preventing infection and scarring. After a miscarriage, your doctor will want to investigate why the miscarriage occurred and may recommend that you wait several menstrual cycles before attempting to become pregnant again.

Although the physical effects are usually mild, the emotional pain that you and your partner may experience can be quite severe. There is a natural tendency to blame yourself for somehow causing the miscarriage, although in many cases you will have had no control over or effect upon the health of your developing baby.

Your feelings of grief and loss may be very strong, so do not be afraid to seek counseling to help you and your partner through this difficult time. In many instances, there will be no reason for you not to become pregnant in the future, and every likelihood that the pregnancy will proceed smoothly.

About the author:
Juzaily Ramli and his wife are the owners of Pregnancy Website. Find out why miscarriage is a living nightmare amongst the expecting parents at miscarriage website.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/lst1984/902028093/

In nine months, the fetal brain grows into ”a complex organ consisting of billions of precisely located, highly interconnected and specialized cells,” the report says.

The growth occurs within ”a tightly controlled time frame, in which each developmental stage has to be reached on schedule and in the correct sequence.”

This creates ”windows of unique susceptibility to toxic interference” that can have permanent consequences, say Grandjean and co-author Philip J. Landrigan, a professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Click here to read the full article at www.canada.com

Sheryl’s comment:

The scary part of industrial chemicals is that you cannot see them, smell them or taste them, yet they can adversely effect fetal development and permanently alter your child. These chemicals are in your home, your air, your water, your food and your toiletries. There is simply no escaping them for they are in the atmosphere.

You can only do the best you can. Detox your home prior to conception if possible. Be aware of potential dangers such as carpeting and by all means never install carpeting if ttc, pregnant, nursing or if you have crawler/toddler in the house. Use air and water filters and eat as organic as possible. Do not have metal fillings put in or taken out if a fetus or baby in any way receives nutrition directly from your body. (Ideally have them removed at least three months prior to conceiving). If you have metal fillings never chew gum while pregnant, minimize hot beverages and try to chew as little as possible (ie: forgo a bag of potato chips). Do not eat microwaved food and if you would rather not err on the side of caution, then never microwave in plastic containers or with plastic wrap unless you want a nice girly little boy. Please use organic bath and beauty products. This is very important because beauty products are not regulated. An even better solution is to get some recipes and make your own bath and beauty products with food grade ingredients from your own kitchen. It is especially important during pregnancy to remember to not put anything on your skin that you are not willing to eat.

Are these scare tactics? No. I have no reason to scare you. We are talking about chemicals with unknown properties that can have permanent effects on your unborn child. Is your convenience really worth your child’s IQ? Or risking autism? You make the choice.

We have known that the effects of smoking during pregnancy endangers unborn children for decades. Smoking is often a part of your life, whether you smoke or not. It can be a detrimental factor in anyone’s life but particularly for a developing fetus.

Surveys show that many mothers smoke during their pregnancy. The mothers often believe that it does not affect their baby at all. Sometimes these are mothers that do not care for their unborn child, but more frequently they simply are not educated or aware of the great dangers smoking poses to their baby. They might quit if they knew that smoking is one of the major causes of infant deaths in the world today.

Mothers who smoke while pregnant run a risk of ectopic pregnancy. This is especially true when the mother is a heavy smoker during the first trimester of her pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy happens when the embryo implants outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tubes. When ectopic pregnancy occurs, the pregnancy has to be terminated because this kind of pregnancy will never go to full term. This fetus will never survive outside of the uterus where a fetus gets all the nourishment and protection that it needs. Prolonging an ectopic pregnancy will also risk the mother’s life.

Smoking also increases the probability that the mother will develop complications with her placenta. Reports show that placental problems occur in about 1% of pregnancies. The most common problem is “placenta previa” where the placenta is connected very low in the uterus and partially or completely blocks the cervix which obstructs the birth canal and the baby must be delivered by C-section or both the mother and the babies lives are at risk.

Another problem is the deterioration of fetal growth. Smoking during pregnancy results in low infant birth weight. For many years now, reports show that there had been significant difference between babies with smoking mothers than those who have non-smoking mothers. There is a correlation between low birth weight and certain conditions like cerebral palsy and mental retardation. They are also more likely to die of SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome. Babies born to smoking mothers are also at increased risk of developing asthma, behavioral problems or learning disabilities.

The dangers from smoking mothers does not end at childbirth. This is especially true for babies who are breastfed by smoking mothers. Studies have revealed that nicotine can be passed on to the baby through breastfeeding. There had been experiments that proved the presence of nicotine in the babies system through urine testing. It later showed that higher percentage of nicotine was found on babies who breastfeed from smoking mothers.

Most experts contend that the problem lies within the mother’s urge to get back to smoking right after they gave birth. They say that it is safe now because the baby was born already. They insist that they stopped smoking during their pregnancy.

Babies should be given the right to live a decent, normal, and healthy life. To all smoking mothers out there: please remember that there are many harmful effects of smoking during and after pregnancy. Give your baby the very best start by simply not smoking.

Author: Tina Dean
About the author: For more information about how to give up smoking please visit www.giveupsmokingforever.com so that you and your child can have healthier lives.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/superfantastic/166215927/