The tobacco industry knew well the stark reality but largely suppressed the facts from getting into the public domain.

Shane. I share your pain :(…… At last someone has spoken up

rob smoking is an addiction ! it may be the case that the effects of giving up smoking would be more harmful to the baby due to the effect that would have on the mother trying to give them up. I am a non smoker!

Terri,look at the creatures outside the rotunda, most of them just don’t care. Makes me sick!

I know James its horrific I agree that some of them are just selfish but in some genuine cases it might just be more dangerous for the child if the mother is seriously stressed not smoking. in some cases known to me some even smoke thru pregnancy with the hope of having a small baby !!!! now that’s bang out of order!

The “poor me I’m an addict ” factor must also be considered as part of the problem.

it was recommended to a friend of mine who only found out when she was 18week’s pregnant that she switch to silk cut as giving up at that stage would stress the baby!

The subject of the psychology behind the “I’m poor” mind set is too hot an issue for the media or politicians to deal with so this group are abandoned to multi generational poverty.

I so agree. After my miscarriage, I can’t explain how hard it was for me to see pregnant women drinking and smoking. I didn’t even drink coffee!

I like GLASS HOUSES and Sinead you’re a pain in the STONES.

That ok?

82%. Doubt that…

Hi Liam.
Like Henry I’m skeptical of your figure of 82%; the study reference please. Perhaps you include women who have one glass of wine during pregnancy? Links between this cohort and FAS, as you well know, have not been established. But I will agree with you that moderate to heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy is devastating to such a degree that abstinence is the most recommendable course of action. As it immediate smoking cessation.

Perhaps your point is that behavioural problems are frequently linked to poor discipline? The long established fact is that smoking during pregnancy harms your child. It is the most disgusting thing to see a pregnant woman puff on a cigarette.

Mary your right…I know plenty of people who’s parents smoked and they didn’t get cancer either so all that cancer stuff must be nonsense also….but then of course it isn’t.

Mary, you’ve missed the point, the research doesn’t mean 100% of kids will have problems, it states the chances are greatly increased and the same goes for a smoker compared to a non smoker when it comes to cancer,

If people knowingly use a substance (smoking) that greatly increases problems for unborn babys and also increased the chances they may die at a younger age thus leaving the kid without a mother then they are selfish idiots

A smoking mother shows she doesn’t give a sh#t. The child then runs riot because the mother doesn’t give a sh#t.

I must try my hand at this research stuff, seems easy…

Smoking during pregnancy gives higher chance of birth defect (odds are 1:1), higher chance of placental previa, placental abruption, ectopic pregnancy, premature birth, low birth weight, slower development of umbilical cord, slower development of foetus, and most smoking pregnancies result in C-sections which in itself presents greater stress on the two bodies involved.
If you smoke or drink during pregnancy you are not fit or responsible enough to be a parent and your child should be taken off you. With everything that we know now about smoking it should be a crime and you should be made pay for every public service you require access to as a result of it.

Selfish, yes. The child taken off them?? Over reaction much? It must be great to be perfect like you. As for the research, pile of sh#te, just some of the demographic is probably less likely to discipline or educate their kids.

Not in the least. Smoking during pregnancy gives a higher odds ratio of everything you really don’t want happening during your pregnancy – happening. If the first decision you make as a parent is “I’m going to keep smoking” frankly, you’re not parenting material, end of. No buts, maybes, or otherwise. Parenting is about sacrifice and compromise, if you can’t compromise and sacrifice the cigarettes for 9 months, you’re not parenting material, because the compromises and the sacrifices only get bigger and bigger as you take this new life form through life, the 9 months of no smoking will be made look like a pussy cat by comparison.

I am a parent (ex smoker), so thanks for your pearls of wisdom but I’m doing just fine. Giving up smoking was the most difficult but most important thing I’ve ever done. Listening to your self important opinion is the last thing that would make someone quit. Best of luck to all pregnant women out there feeling the terrible guilt whilst trying to knock it on the head. Of course there are women that don’t care, you’ll always have that..The word scobie sums them up..

My mum smoked durning her pregnancy with me, I came out perfect I was an angel along with a tan, I did not smoke during my pregnancy and the last one is litterly the spawn of satan ! Load of BS

My mum smoked when she was pregnant with me and I was born with a cleft lip, if she didn’t smoke I would have had a 30% less chance of that happening to me. As far as I know giving up smoking doesn’t increase a mothers’ chance of a cleft lip, it’s good for them. So why smoke???

Trish yes it’s true I don’t have a uterus.
You on the other hand appear to be managing away with no brain, so I don’t feel so bad…

Find me a pregnant smoking male, and I’ll say the exact same thing. Your insinuation that you must be a pregnant female is most offensive to those of us who work in the area of midwifery.
The point is that if you continue to smoke, (or be in the presence of second hand smoke which is just as lethal lest we all forget what it does to adults never mind foetuses), you are endangering your pregnancy and preventing the foetus from developing normally.
In this day and age there is no excuse to smoke – never mind smoke during pregnancy. There are smoking cessation officers in every public hospital in the country helping people quit. There are no reasons to ever smoke – and your excuse that its hard for women doesn’t cut it when the services are freely available to everyone, including pregnant men and women.

I am a woman, have been pregnant and think smoking during pregnancy is abhorrent. Everyone is entitled to an opinion on this. It’s about the children.

Trish I am male but i am pretty sure i was born a baby, am I entitled to an opinion?

I read people’s feedback and I’m sorry for offending anyone. I was in a stroppy mood this morning and shouldn’t have been so small minded.
Of course, men have every right to their opinions regarding smoking in pregnancy. It is their child too and indeed it must be very tough on them if the female smokes as they have no control at all about the well being / health of their unborn child.
I don’t approve of pregnant women smoking or smoking around children. When I do see either I automatically think “skanger”!
In saying that, however, individual differences should be acknowledged and I guess, respected, whether I agree with it or not!

Well said, too many hypocrites on here lately!!!! FFS!!!!

Ah Sinead that’s priceless. I can see that you turned out perfect.

You’re onto a winner when a post starts with “will ye all fu#k off”.

You got there ahead of me Damian. :)

Yeah Sinéad, you seem like a lovely person.

Sinead, my mother smoked and we turned out well too, but that is not the point. It was still wrong. These days we are better informed so there are no excuses.

Which it was, but that’s not an argument for here.

Its not all a big conspiracy!