| The March of Dimes supports Governor Granholm’s proposed 75-cent tax increase on cigarettes to raise new revenue dedicated to fund health care coverage and other programs providing smoking prevention and cessation services for pregnant women.
Simply put, March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women not smoke, and if they do, we urge them to quit! Studies show that pregnant women who smoke are approximately 27% more likely to have a preterm delivery than those who don’t smoke. These babies, if they survive, can incur life long problems from being born too small and too soon.
The most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 23% of all women in Michigan smoked in 2002. This is higher than the national average (20%). In addition, nearly 16% of pregnant Michigan women smoke, according to 2001 data from the National Center for Health Statistics prepared for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This is also higher than the national average (12.2%).
March of Dimes wants every pregnant woman to know about the negative effects smoking can have on her baby. For example, smoking during pregnancy constricts blood flow causing less blood to pass through the placenta. Less oxygen gets to the baby, which could result in underdeveloped lungs and asthma. For more information, click here. |
