Smoking while Pregnant

My teen cousin kinda inspired me to make this thread because she smoked though her entire pregnancy and I was not at all pleased, but it was her choice just the same.

We all know that smoking while pregnant increased the risk of health problems with the baby, and everytime I see a pregnant woman smoking, the little voice in my head says 'she should not be doing that'

Would you consider smoking while pregnant child abuse? Do you think it should be outlawed if the woman is carrying the child to term?

I often wonder why pregnant women who say "I want this baby and going to carry it to term" smoke and put their child's health a risk if they 'want' the baby so much.

What do you all think about this?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I questioned my cousin while she was having a smoke on her 7th month, and she told me that the doctor told her is it bad to stop smoking cold turkey and could harm her baby... is this true?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Sassafrass

NO ONE has the right to tell a person what they can and can not do with their own bodies. Yea, it sucks. Yea, it could be child abuse. But while the mother is carrying that baby, both life forms are compacted into ONE body who makes all the decisions.

You could not and SHOULD NOT outlaw a mother's right to smoke while she's carrying child. It's an out-right violation of personal freedom if you ask me. If a mother wants to smoke while she's with child, it's her loss - not mine. (Except for the small portion of my income that will take care of her kid's ailments, the stupid ass).

Could have not said it better myself. True smoking and drinking is harmful to the child, but it is the woman's choice. If it where outlawed, then why not outlaw abortion? Ending the pregancey would get rid of the fetus altogether, and it is the woman's choice, it has nothing to do with me.

I love my cousin and I gave her advice against it, that is all I could do. The choice was hers, but that choice told me that she cared about her habit more then the well being of her child seeing that she was planning to keep it, so yeah... I consider that selfish.

The baby was born a little light, but is growing very well, so she was lucky.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by taiga

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.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

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.

I was speaking idiomatically.