Smoking during pregnancy is a NO-NO. But if you REALLY CAN’T quit, you can mitigate some of the trouble caused by your bad habit, by taking a dose of ….

You’re pregnant and you’re SMOKING. Shame on you………….

Don’t worry, this is not going to be a tirade about why you should quit. You should. But, let’s face it, the nicotine habit is – addicting. Quitting is easier said than done.

So…………… if you REALLY CAN’T, is there anything you can do, to protect your little one from your bad habit ?

The good news is yes.

A group of researchers from Oregon Health and Science University have uncovered, a relatively easy “fix”, that pregnant smokers can deploy, to mitigate the deleterious effects that smoking has on a baby’s lung function.

The “fix”………….

Just take extra vitamin C

The team recruited pregnant smokers from around town. The women were divided into one of two groups :

• Group 1, puffed their way through their pregnancy. 90 Moms did this.
• Group 2, puffed as well, but these ladies, also swallowed a vitamin C pill (500 mg) each day. 89 Moms did this.

When the baby’s popped out – the team assessed the lung function of all the newborns, within 72 hours of birth.

The team found, babies who got extra vitamin C……

Breathing easier

At birth. Both the TPTEF:TE (ratio of the time to peak tidal expiratory flow to expiratory time) and passive respiratory compliance per kilogram test, were significantly better in the babies whose Mom’s had taken the vitamin C.

Plus, along the way to their first birthday – on going monitoring, showed these babies, were less likely to be wheezers.

The team speculate, the better breathing at birth, will mean better breathing for life.

So if can’t be a non-smoker during your pregnancy…….

Be a C-smoker

Add lots of vitamin C to your day.

NOTE : One of the reasons, smoking causes health troubles, is it creates oxidative stress. The benefit of vitamin C, it is a powerful natural anti-oxidant.

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