Should pregnant women be banned from smoking in light of new research?

[hunkermunker]

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"Nine out of 10 mothers whose babies suffered cot death smoked during pregnancy, according to a scientific study to be published this week. The study, thought to be one of the most authoritative to date on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), says women who smoke during pregnancy are four times more likely than non-smokers to see their child fall victim to cot death."

Personally, I find it very, very hard to understand why anybody smokes while knowingly pregnant. And yes, I know it's addictive. I speak as an ex-smoker, not somebody who has no idea what it's like to have a love affair with the evil weed.

I would imagine if all people on welfare/low incomes feel as hopeless as i do then i'm not surprised if smoking/drinking/drug addiction is higher. It is a means of escape or reduction of stress. Pregnancy is a very stressful time, especially if you are worrying about how you are going to afford an extra room, another mouth to feed, a cot, bedding, clothes every 3 months - 6 months, and so on. Even more stressful if you are doing this alone.

I would imagine if all people on welfare/low incomes feel as hopeless as i do then i'm not surprised if smoking/drinking/drug addiction is higher. It is a means of escape or reduction of stress. Pregnancy is a very stressful time, especially if you are worrying about how you are going to afford an extra room, another mouth to feed, a cot, bedding, clothes every 3 months - 6 months, and so on. Even more stressful if you are doing this alone.

Apologies for the duplicate. I have no idea how that happened

Yes, that's true. Surprised some people can afford it but it may be their only pleasure although couldn't they pick something cheaper and better like going on a jog or more sex or something.

Lol@more sex...that may result in more pregnancy

Having read up on this last year for college, the worse someone's life chances generally (ie through poverty, poor education, etc), the more likely they are to smoke. For example, 94% of homeless people smoke. Measures to cut the smoking rates among these groups needs to focus on redistribution rather than regulation.

Telling pregnant women they can't smoke will not work - the law says that you can't take heroin whether pregnant or not and addicted babies are still born.

Look at this for more on the links with poverty.

Lucky me - apparently i live in a deprived area with a high percentage of smokers. But i already suspected that!