Explaining why cigarette smoking is toxic, Dr Chee said: "Smoking produces more than 4,000 chemicals and substances which are absorbed into the bloodstream, of which many are carcinogenic (cancer-causing)."
A significant by-product of smoking is carbon monoxide - a gas which displaces oxygen from the bloodstream and deprives the foetus of oxygen. Plus, it also constricts the blood vessels leading to the uterus, she added.
About 5 per cent of the pregnant patients Dr Chee sees are smokers. Fortunately, the majority managed to quit smoking during their pregnancies. Among them is Amy (not her real name), who forced herself to stub out during her pregnancy three years ago. The moment the woman stops smoking, the oxygen levels in her blood stream would rise. Blood flow to the placenta and her unborn child will also increase
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