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

[hunkermunker]

See here

"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.

Sorry, LM, I realised after I posted that's it's not all about me

but it is mostly !!

Well, yes, you're right, it is.

Go on then, give me a rundown of the top threads on Hunkernet...

Umm... How about:

HunkNet instead?

I might come there...

(ups freudian slip)

In a perfect world it would be good if smoking, when pregnant getting drunk when pregnant and taking drugs when pregnant were banned. I dont see how it can be stopped, there are still going to be people who possibly even do all three. I know of someone who smoked dope and even smoked it while pregnant. I dont speak to this person anyway but whenever i see her i think of that and feel disgusted with her. Sorry for going off topic a bit but the reality is its more than smoking that some women do during pregnancy.

gad, though... imagine reading that today as the mother of a baby who died a cot death and who'd smoked through pregnancy. if nothing else, the horror of being in that situation will hopefully make women currently pregnant think seriously about giving up.

Oh there's lots of judging and sanctimony on this thread.

But well said Edam, I agree with all your posts.

My DH who smokes says that the Goverment should just make it illegal to smoke to make tobacco illegal. To give everybody who does smoke all the nicotene patches and support they need etc. But the government wont do that, they think they need the taxes, but the NHS would benefit from not having the amount of smoking related illnesses.
This is my Dh's idea and he has smoked for 33years starting at 14years old.

Top threads, Edam - oh, who knows - something about bf, probably Nothing about smoking in pregnancy - apparently that's fine to do and anybody who thinks otherwise is judgey and sanctimonious...

We live in such a nanny state.

..I meant women can do what they like with their bodies not babies (Freudian slip). I think that's the right approach although it ignores the rights of the unborn child of course.

"new mothers who smoke should be told they are not to smoke in enclosed areas with their children and smoking should be banned from all houses where children live and people should report to the social services or police is they think these parents are smoking in their houses. this includes smoking in your door way, the smokes still fills the house just the same."

Dear god. Why not just chemically neuter all people who smoke. Hell, gather all around and put them into isolated camps (or an island) so that they do not harm your pink lungs.

You obviously are either a secret supporter of an authoritarian state, or you really haven't thought this one through.

Ok, would it be better to prosecute smoking pregnant women for manslaughter AFTER the baby has died from cotdeath?

Ok, would it be better to prosecute smoking pregnant women for manslaughter AFTER the baby has died from cotdeath?

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"The day pregnant women start being banned from doing anything, as opposed to advised and given guidelines, is a very bleak day indeed."
I totally agree with that.

morningglory... Why should you be allowed to "harm my pink lungs" ?

Surely I have just as much of a right to protect my lungs, and those of my loved ones as you have to poison yours ?

How about banning women from having kids until they can prove that they
A) have enough money
B) are emotionally mature enough
C) fill in your own..........

There are worse things you can do to a baby/child

What about doing something about all those mothers who are so obviously not able to care for/ nature/ nourish a baby and child? How about picking on them.

Hmmm, as an ex smoker I too know how hard it is to stop smoking, but (I know I am going to be slaughtered for this) I don't think it is as hard as people make out. The important thing is deciding you are going to stop. Then stop.

I don't like other peoples smoke in ym face and I don't think that 'smoking outside' when you have kids is enoguh. Smoke continues to stay in your lungs and on your clothes for up to twenty minutes after having a cigarette.

Having said that I think breast is best, I hate ready-made baby jars, I don't think kids should be in pushcahirs past a certain age (SN not included obviously) but I don't think any of this should be banned.

As parents we make the choices, and unfortunately sometimes those choices are not the best for our baby.

Can I just put this on the thread again, because it seems to be being overlooked:

"Nine out of 10 mothers whose babies suffered cot death smoked during pregnancy."

Is it better that women are told this sort of thing, so that they can make informed decisions regarding future pregnancies?

Or should it not be mentioned, in case women are "made to feel guilty"?

Agree with LoRayning...as an ex smoker who gave up when trying to get PG these are my sentiments exactly.

I suspect that most (not all) of the people getting defensive are smokers. Smokers feel guilty at the best of times and this usually manifests itself as defensiveness.

I'm not being holier than thou - I am by no means perfect but I do happen to feel very strongly about this issue. So judge me for judging ;)

i think it is the salient point

but a lot of people do not trust statistics, and indeed they can be skewed. and most people would think they would be the one of out ten to whom it didn;t happen

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