Teenagers Smoking During Pregnancy ON PURPOSE!?

[marienhs]

Really wish I was joking (although I wouldn't joke about such a thing) or this was some kind of bizarre satire, but apparently some teenagers are purposefully smoking during pregnancy because they want to minimise pain during child birth.

www.knowlio.org/pregnant-teenagers-are-starting-to-smoke-to-make-their-babies-small-because-theyre-afraid-of-labor/

I genuinely believe smoking during pregnancy should be made illegal anyway, regardless of how well or whether it's enforced. This makes me furious, and I can imagine there's many mums, would-be mums and those who have struggled to have children who'd feel the same.

Thanks for the reports, everyone - we're not sure about this, so going to zap.

Bertrand the thing is, that is what people were generally told about smoking in pregnancy - that the baby would be smaller. There wasn't really much known about potential risks, and that is what needs to be emphasized nowadays. There's a big difference between your baby will be a bit smaller (which we now know isn't neccesarily a bad thing) and other risks, such as miscarriage, lifelong respiratory problems, and so on).
Not that I'm well aware of ante natal education nowadays, I had my youngest 17 years ago.

A pregnant woman's body is still hers even if a baby is growing inside her.
Are you also suggesting to make it illegal for them to drink, eat unpasteurized cheese or sushi, skiing, having rough sex, ...

I know many teenagers who smoke in pregnancy. Because I work with teens who have come off the streets, given up crack/meth/heroin/alcohol/sex work to have their child and some still smoke. Of course they are encouraged to quit. But making it illegal? Nope.

My circumstances weren't the same but when I accidentally got pregnant at 21, I drank alcohol, smoked weed, took speed and smoked a whole load of cigarettes in the first month before I knew I was pregnant.

I quit the first three and massively cut down on my smoking once I found out but didn't stop smoking immediately. Tbh, I was in shock about the whole situation.

It was stupid but I can't imagine making it illegal would have helped.

Women throughout the 1940s/50s/60s smoked during pregnancy. Obviously we know it's a bad idea now but it isn't an instant death sentence.

I was 19 when I got pregnant I found out at 9 weeks, I smoked i didnt know if I was going to have a termination, When I decided to continue the pregnancy I was 10 weeks quit afterwards not everyone plans pregnancy or sits waiting for a BFP it just happens for some people.

I recall this story doing the rounds when I was having DD and she is 19, I think it is one of those Urban Myths that hangs around because it sounds plausible and there may be the odd stupid person who does it. But I dont think that it is a widespread thing.

Didn't Courtney Love joke she smoked and took heroin to ensure a small baby? She was panned for saying it and social services got involved.