Although I don't agree with women smoking while pregnant, its not against the law to do so. I would want to have minimum risk when it comes to having a child. But, I guess I am a guy and I could never really understand what a woman has to go through.

I don't find smoking very appealing in the first place, so I would not have a wife who smokes.

I have heard of children who have developed problems due to smoking however, and probably due to a few other things as well.

Having to live your life with a socially damaging or health detrimental birth defect because your mom was "Ok" with taking a chance on her future child and puffing away is just plain fucking retarded no matter how I look at it.

As Squirrel said, theres plenty of other factors that involve child disabilities, but from the articles I've seen involving this sort of thing, smoking and alcaholism are the two most prominent, and really serve no responsible purpose. The benefits of exercising and coffee-drinking are obvious.

I recommend you watch Penn & Teller's BULLSHIT! on secondhand smoking. (It's mostly entertainment, but they're making a good point in the show - and it's overall a pretty good show.)

I hate to break it to you, but despite the fact that I am a smoker (and I admit, a little biased, here), this "secondhand" bullshit is really overblown. (Ask me to post some published articles if you're interested).

The only risk to your health from secondhand smoke is if you're exposed to prolonged cigarette smoke constantly. Something like a small child living in a house where one or more adults smoke on a regular basis. I can tell you THAT shit is true - I've seen the differences.

But truely, you can't really suffer any long-term affects from walking by a few smokers on the street or having a a conversation with a smoker over coffee. That's pretty much a myth.

I understand non-smokers don't like the SMELL at all, and the smoke my irritate them a little - but you know, I may happen to be allergic to some perfumes/colognes and have bad reactions to them! I may sincerely dislike the perfume/cologne you're wearing! I may think you made a VERY UNHEALTHY decision about weraring that particular scent!

But that does not give me the right to tell you what you should and should not do with your own body. You can't OUTLAW things just because you don't LIKE them.

Please explain why you can effectively have the police force your neighbours to stop making noise late at night if it's annoying you.

While I think P&T are generally cool, they were wrong about that and I would no recommend this episode.
http://skepdic.com/news/newsletter61.html#4
Furthermore: allegedly, P&T were asked about their evidence at the Amaz!ng Meeting 3 and that they'd make some corrections or notations. I haven't attended this meeting nor have I watched the DVDs, though, so I can't be sure.

She was dumb enough not to use birth control when having sex to begin with...so doesn't say much about her being stupid of what she wants to do to herself to get rid of the pregnancy; it's her own fault for not taking precautious measures.

Double Post:
I have a solution for you: move to California. We pay higher taxes, our highways are more congested than ever, our living expenses are twice as high as anywhere else in the country, and we pay higher gas prices -- but we DO outlaw smoking inside of any public places (bars, restaurants, office buildings, etc.)

She does live in California.

durrr.

ouch. Owned. Seriously though, my town has banned smoking in restaurants. Im not really for or against it really, but I think it does lighten the atmosphere a little.
As for smoking while pregnant (or even after, around a baby) has always been a nono for me.

I think I saw this clipping from Jay Leno's 'Headlines' segment. I have no pity on the woman's for being laughed at over it.

Smoking is associated with a low birth weight etc. Nicotine is also proven to be as addictive as heroin. But I still think that the least you should expect from a mother-to-be is an attempt to quit.
I'm a dental student and we are trained in smoking cessation counciling... we were told scary stories about women smoking specifically so that the baby would be small and easier to deliver.
Here in Ireland we have enforced a full smoking ban in all workplaces, including pubs and restaurants - it is brilliant and I can only hope that something similar is brought in everywhere. You can't infringe someone's right to clean air - it's just as valid as not infringing somebody's right to smoke.

Smoking in public places including bars, bingo halls, and restaurants is banned here in Newfoundland. The bar owners kicked up a fuss over it and tried to have it overturned. The government is standing firm on banning smoking where ever the public gather. Kudos.

Well, I meant to be cynically comical, but I do share your sentiments of "how stupid is the concept that smoke odor doesn't spread out to the 'non-smoking' side" and "why the fuck should my food taste and smell aweful because of your horribly stinky habitual craving."

...Ok, so I paraphrased it a little.

I think the laws that prohibit people from smoking in public places just generally encourage better smoking habits or to say the least, instills just a teensy bit more etiquette to smokers. At first it's forcing them to do it, but it just gradually becomes general/natural ettiquette once people get used to it.

If a pregnant woman smokes, fuck her. It's her fault. But on another note, my sister is a high school music teacher, and she believes we should pass a law stating that you need a LICENSE to become a parent. I couldn't agree with her more!

Arizona just had two ballot measures, one that outlawed smoking in nearly every place but bars and tobacco stores, one that allowed smoking in almost every private place including restaurants.

The first one passed overwhelmingly, the second one was shot down handily. When put to a vote, at least here in Arizona, smoking was voted to be hidden away from most of us, and I'm quite happy about that.

definetly. it's an obvious sign of stupidity on the part of the pregnant mother. and as obvious as all those pretty little signs are about how "Smoking kills unborn children" are on those packages, really, it's just a matter of common sense. but you really can't tell her how to raise her child. she's gonna have to find out the hard way if she's dumb enough to do that