marijuana and cigarettes

[samanthacoti]

So I used to smoke weed heavily before i became pregnant but now that Ive been pregnant ive smoked occasionally. I started smoking cigarettes a month before I found out I was pregnant. I dont smoke either everyday. They are both occasionally but I smoke cigarettes more than I do weed. I eat healthy sometimes, I wat junkfood and drink soda sometimes as well. I just want to know the effect all this has on my baby...

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Not only is the action of smoking itself is detrimental to the health of the baby, but we do not know how cannabis intake can affect the developing brain.I understand that smoking is extremely addictive, but there are certain things we do for our kid that are very hard, and one of them is being pregnant, taking care of our bodies while pregnant and nursing (and I am not even talking about giving birth!).  That is only the start of a difficult life of a parent. So, let me give you the facts that you probably already know, but they are important to repeat.
Smoking while pregnant will:
Lower the amount of oxygen and nutrient available your growing baby.
Increase your baby's heart rate.
Increase the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth.
Increase the risk that your baby is born prematurely and/or born with low birth weight.
Increase your baby's risk of developing respiratory (lung) problems.
Second hand smoke has been shown to be just as harmful.
Cannabis has been shown to lower the user's IQ (intelligence)  by about 10 points, so it is most likely negatively affects fetal brain development.
I do hope that you are eating right and exercising but you also want to stay away from all unneeded drugs and alcohol while you are pregnant and nursing or mothering young children. Please take good care of yourself and that way you can be sure you are taking the best care of your child.

[samanthacoti]

Im 21 weeks.