Does smoking and drinking have an impact on pregnancy? It may cause teratogenesis!

There are many things that need to be paid attention to during pregnancy, such as smoking and drinking. As for whether smoking and drinking have an impact on pregnancy, the answer is yes. Both first-hand and second-hand smoke have an impact on pregnancy and the fetus. Especially during pregnancy, smoking and drinking may cause fetal malformations.

1. Affect sperm

Nicotine, sulfur monoxide and other harmful substances in tobacco invade sperm through the smoker's blood circulation and may cause changes in the chromosomes and genes of sperm cells. The development of the fetus formed by the combination of this sperm and egg cell will be damaged to varying degrees, resulting in miscarriage, premature birth, and in severe cases, congenital malformations of the fetus.

2. Impact on the fetus

The effects of alcohol abuse on the fetus have long been documented. In the West, there is a term called "Sunday Baby", which refers to the baby conceived and born on Sunday when couples take a vacation and drink to celebrate. Getting pregnant after drinking alcohol can cause fetal growth retardation, intellectual disability in the child, and in severe cases, even idiocy. This is mainly because after drinking a lot of alcohol, the alcohol concentration in the blood increases, which has a harmful effect on the fetus. There is a saying in my country that "don't enter the house after drinking", which seems to be in line with the view of eugenics.

3. Mothers’ smoking affects their children

Children born to smoking mothers grow up to have smaller lungs than those born to non-smoking mothers, regardless of whether they smoke themselves. What's more, if children born to smoking mothers also develop the habit of smoking, they are at a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including emphysema.

4. Smoking and drinking are more likely to cause ectopic pregnancy

In recent years, the number of female patients with ectopic pregnancy has increased, and the age of onset is getting younger and younger. This is closely related to some bad living habits, among which smoking and drinking are important reasons. Studies have found that nicotine in tobacco can disrupt the normal peristalsis of the fallopian tube cilia, delaying the entry of the egg into the uterus, and thus causing ectopic pregnancy. The chance of ectopic pregnancy in women who smoke is 1.5-4 times higher than that of non-smokers. It can also lead to low immune function and gynecological inflammation, which can cause blockage of the fallopian tubes. Long-term and heavy drinking of large amounts of alcohol can also cause swelling and necrosis of the fallopian tube mucosa, narrowing the passage to the uterus, making it impossible for the fertilized egg to enter the uterus, thus causing ectopic pregnancy.