Secondhand Smoke and Pregnancy
When a pregnant woman breathes secondhand smoke, her unborn baby is exposed to it too. In the womb, that exposure can change how the lungs develop and function, and it sets up changes linked to lasting breathing problems later in life. A smoke-filled room carries many harmful chemicals into the air she breathes — among them arsenic, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and radioactive elements. Secondhand smoke during pregnancy can raise the risk of many health problems for both mother and baby, such as:

Spontaneous abortions Premature birth Birth/delivery difficulties Low birth weight Sudden infant death syndrome

Mental retardation Childhood respiratory disorders Learning and developmental problems Cancer-causing agents in infants� blood