5.+The+Effects+of+Nicotine+on+the+Fetus

= = =**The Effects of Nicotine** **on the Fetus**= The effects of nicotine on the fetus is profound. Smoking while pregnant can have serious effects on the pregnancy and lifelong effects on the fetus. There are more than 1000 different compounds in cigarettes. Some of which are carbon monoxide, carcinogens, hydrogen cyanide and some trace elements like nickel, cadium, and lead. **Nicotine** and **Carbon Monoxide** are the two main compounds that can cause harm to the fetus.

**How Nicotine and** **Carbon Monoxide affects the Fetus**
====Carbon Monoxide directly affects the blood of the unborn fetus. It significantly reduces the ability of the blood to carry sufficient oxygen to the tissues of the fetus. Since carbon monoxide replaces oxygen, the fetus tries to get more oxygen by creating extra red blood cells. This can lead to the fetus's blood getting too thick and blood suppy being cut off from the organs which can result in death.====

Nicotine is seen as the ingredient most responsible for the majority of the effects in cigarettes. It affects both the cardiovascular and the central nevous system; the genital, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems of the fetus. It is known to cross the placenta and impact the amniotic fluid and fetus at great levels. Nicotine can cause the blood pressure of the fetus to increase and the breathing to decrease. It can cause the blood vessels of the placenta to narrow which can decrease the supply of food to the fetus.The fetus then receives insufficient amounts of nutrients d oxygen which causes it's growth to be hampered and it's development to be impaired.Babies born to mothers who smoked during their pregnancy may have an addiction to nicotine and will suffer withdrawal symptoms.



Pregnant women who try to stop smoking by using the patch may be doing more harm to their babies.
====Many women will try to stop smoking when they get pregnant by using the patch. While this may be an effective method, for pregnant women, it may cause more harm than good to their unborn child. Often the pregnant mother-to-be, while using the patch will smoke occationally. This delivers a consistant flow of nicotine and carbon monoxide to the fetus, which is poisonous**.**====