Conference moira::parenting_v3

    
    I didn't smoke but my mother did.
    
    How much?  1/2 pack to pack a day
    
    Any ramifications to kids?  Hard to say. My youngest brother was very
    sickly as a child.  Later they found out he was allergic to milk.
    I have allergies.  These may or may not be related to her smoking.
    As adults, none of us have had any illnesses.
    
    Birthweight:  4 kids.  all between 5 lbs, 8 oz to 6lb 6 oz.  Mom's
    		sisters, mother, aunts and I all had bigger babies.
    		Mine was the smallest at 7 lbs 11 oz.  One of my mom's
    		sister's kids were all over 9 lbs.
    
    None were premature.
    
    Mom quit smoking for 17 years once it was established that I had
    bad allergies (when I was 7 or so).  She started again once all
    the kids were grown up.

I have never smoked, but my mother smoked through all three pregnancies, and
still claims that the current information is ridiculous!  (We all turned out
well didn't we????)

I was 3+ weeks late, and weighed 6 lbs.  To me this is low birthweight.  I
still have problems breathing when I am anywhere near smoke, but it could be
from all the second-hand smoke I inhaled when growing up.

By younger brother recently had to take a physical for his employer.  He 
answered the pre-physical question of "Have you ever smoked?" with "NO."  During
his physical, the doctor asked if he was around smoke growing up.  My
brother was shocked, and asked how he knew.  The doctor said that his lungs
were about 80% capacity for normal.

FWIW,
Kristen

P.S.  Funny story comes to mind.  At my previous employer a woman who was
pregnant smoked through her entire pregnancy.  Of course we all made comments
behind her back..... when another friend of mine got pregnant, then had a
perm during her 2nd trimester, the woman who had smoked the entire pregnancy
said "I can't BELIEVE you would jeopardize the health of your baby by having
a perm while you're pregnant!"

    Another "somewhat-related experience"....My mother didn't smoke when
    she was pregnant with any of us but I did grow up with constant 
    smoking by both my mother and father.   I had an identical experience
    as Kristen's brother in .2 during my physical required for employment
    at DEC.  The nurse that adminstered the lung volume (or whatever it
    was) test could not believe that I didn't smoke because my lung
    capacity was so low.   I don't recall the the percentage but it 
    was/is bad.   As a result, I believe that there is some potential
    for harm/damage due to passive smoke.
    
    Carol

    
    I don't smoke but, my husband does.  When I was pregnany for my first
    we went to the doctor and he asked how many packs of cigarettes I
    smoked a day.  I told him that I didn't smoke but, my husband does.
    For a few visits after he asked the same questions.
    
    My mom smoked when she was pregnant for me and my sister.  We have no
    problems but we were premature by a couple of weeks nd only weighed in 
    at 4lbs 13oz and 4lbs 13.5oz.
    
    							carol

    My mom smoked with all of us too.  
    
       My older sister was 10 days late (born 1/1 -- just late enough to 
          miss the tax deduction) and weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces.  
    
       I was 4 days late (born 1/2 -- missed it again!) and weighed 
          8 pounds, 15 ounces.  
    
       My younger sister was right on time and weighed 9 pounds, 14 ounces.  
    
    They stopped after that so they wouldn't enter the 10 pound range!
    
    As far as I know, none of us has any health problems related to my
    mom's smoking during pregnancy or both parents smoking when we were
    young.  (Thankfully, they both quit when I was 10).  But, time will
    tell.
    
                                          Tracy

    My sister-in-law smokes heavily and lives in a poorly-ventilated
    apartment.  She had a very difficult pregnancy including gestational
    diabetes.  I don't know how much the smoking contributed to her
    difficulties or the baby's premature birth at approx. 4.5 pounds.
    
    It seemed like last winter (his first full winter) someone in the
    family had a serious respiratory infection at all times.  My s.i.l.
    attributed his runny nose and weepiness to teething, but I have my
    doubts.  
    
    Now she wants to have another child.  Sigh. . .
    
    Laura

    I smoked through my entire pregnancy about 1 pack per day.  I had no 
    physical problems at all and my baby was healthy (8lbs), on time, and
    hasn't had any illness yet.  As a matter of fact, all the infants at my daycare
    provider have had ear infection and colds over the last several weeks
    and my daughter hasn't been sick yet.  
    
    This is a tough one.  When I found out I was pregnant, I was very
    nervous about my smoking habit but wasn't able to 'kick it'.  The more
    I talked with people, what Doctors had approved years ago for pregnant
    women and what they approve of today are definitely different sides of
    the fence.  One of my aunts was told to take three aspirin a day while
    she was pregnant for headaches twenty years ago.  All nine children are
    fine today.  
    
    Since my baby is healthy and fine and I smoked, it's really hard for me
    to say I believe smoking contributes to certain ailments in infants....
    
    Sandie
    
    
    
  

    My first child was born in 1972, weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. (7 days late)
    my second was born in 1974, weighed 7 lbs. 14 1/4 oz  (5 days early).
    
    Both were considered to be very healthy, and neither has ever
    experienced any kind of asthma or bronchitis.
    
    I quit smoking four years ago.  My almost-three-year-old was born with
    respiratory distress syndrome (gestational diabetes -- delivered "too"
    early -- lungs had no surfactant).  Standing there helplessly watching
    his chest cave in fighting for every breath with the assistance of
    oxygen and a respirator tore my heart out.  If I had smoked at any time
    during that pregnancy I would have been inconsolable!!!  Even if the
    medical profession could have proven that smoking had nothing to do
    with it, I will always be so grateful that I quit before I conceived!
    
    Of course, four years ago there was a lot of pressure to quit smoking,
    and almost twenty years ago people didn't treat it as such a big
    deal...
    
    Just my 2 cents worth,
    
    Dale

    I smoked less than 5 cigarettes/day when I was pregnant w/ my first. 
    The Dr. seemed to  think that this would do less harm than the
    potential stress of trying to quit completely.  I quit as soon as he
    was born for ~a year.  I was back to smoking again when I got pregnant
    again, and smoked ~1/2 pack/day - sometimes a little more.  Both were
    early, but that was because of my diabetes.
    
    My first weighed 6lbs 2oz, my second 5lbs. 2oz.  Both lost almost a
    full pound right after that were born.  I do believe that they were so
    small because of my smoking.  My second was 2 weeks closer to term than
    my first, and a pound lighter - I was smoking more than twice as much. 
    It doesn't get much clearer than that to me.
    
    RE: - a few.  While you can't prove that smoking causes G.D., it is a
    fact that cigarettes are laced with a significant amount of sugar, so
    it can't help any.
    
    As far as the kid's health ... I **NEVER** smoked in the house - it
    didn't seem fair to me to inflict my bad habits on them.  I quit before
    nursing them both because I was told that that was worse than smoking
    while pregnant.  The only time I ever smoked near them was in the car
    with the window all the way down.  No one's allowed to smoke in our
    house(and never has been) - I don't care who you are - we don't need to
    sleep with that.  YECH!  Since then, I've quit for good and now just
    the smell of cigarette smoke makes me sick.  
    
    Also, I do know a little boy whose mother is a chain smoker, and they
    live in this tiny apartment.  He is constantly suffering from sniffles
    and always has trouble breathing.  A few months ago, he stayed at a
    friend's(non-smokers) for a few weeks while his mom and dad tried to
    work out some difference - and amazingly, by the end of the first week,
    he could breathe ok, his sniffles were gone, he had energy and pep like
    he's never had.  As soon as he went back to living with his mom, he was
    right back to 'normal' ... and somehow this isn't child abuse.... HUH?
    
    Anyway, even if you make it through the pregnancy with a term, good
    size baby, I think the more concerning factor is the environment that
    the child lives in for the next 20 years -- not just the one they're
    created in for 9 mos!!
    
    Good Luck!  I wish I had quit .... maybe my squirt wouldn't be such a
    squirt!
    

    I smoked about a pack a day and when I found out I was pregnant,
    I quit.  Occasionally I'd have one and would always feel incredibly
    guilty...  My daughter weighed 7 lbs. 8.5 oz. at birth (4 days early)
    and is healthy.  Unfortunately, I have been unable to quit completely
    and today smoke about 1/4 of a pack daily.  You'd think I'd be able
    to just give it up since it's only 5 cigarettes a day, but it's so
    difficult...  I never smoke around my child and others who don't smoke.
    
    My neighbor smoked quite a bit during each of her pregnancies, had
    3 children (all within a few days of their due-dates) and each of them
    weighed well over 8 lbs.  All are healthy normal kids.  I feel that
    she and I are both very lucky.  I truly believe that smoking can be
    extremely harmful to unborn children and a mother must do her best
    to not smoke at all - regardless of whether or not she's pregnant.
    Sounds crazy coming from a smoker, huh?  I wish I could be a lot
    stronger than I am.
    
    - Kathryn
    
    

    I quit smoking for good as soon as I found out I was pregnant.  I had
    gestational diabetes throughout my pregnancy.  My son was born 5 days
    early weighing 7lbs. 5 1/2 oz.  He had no problems at birth with his
    health.  When he was 6 months old we changed daycare providers.  The
    new daycare provider smoked (heavily).  I asked her to please put Shane
    in another room when she smoked.  In the time that he was in here care, 
    he developed constant ear infections and upper respiratory problems (he 
    was even hospitalized once).  The doctor says that she felt the cigarette
    smoking was contributing to a lot of his problems.  I have since
    switched daycare providers again.  This new daycare provider does not
    smoke (although her husband does, but never in the house while Shane is
    there).  In the past month that Shane has been in this new daycare
    providers care, his ear infections have completely gone, and the only time 
    that he's had any problems breathing, is while the two upper teeth were
    coming in.
    
    Lori B.

    I smoked at the very beginning of my pregnancy and a cigarette here and
    there during the 2nd trimester. Quit completely in the last 3 months of
    my pregnancy. No problems with my daughter,happy healthy 9 month old
    this month!
    But some people are not so lucky.
    
    
    Sandy
    
    

    I smoked with my first pregnancy, 3 years ago, roughly 5-6 cigarettes
    a day. Ryan was 8 lbs. plus at birth. 
    
    This pregnancy I was much much sicker early on, and ended up quitting
    by 13 weeks, since the smell of smoke made me ill and I threw up each
    time I smoked a cigarette.  We shall see if the baby's weight differs
    because of this.
    
    Early this year the results of a study were released, which strongly
    indicate that carcinogens are passed through the placenta to the baby,
    from the toxins in cigarette smoke.  And there have been contention for
    years that cigarette smoke before and after birth weaken lung
    development and lung ability for small children.
    
    I was an avid smoker for many years and miss it greatly from a personal
    standpoint. However, I got to a point where the bad feelings and guilt
    that I felt outweighed the "good" feelings I got from smoking - social
    acceptance is nil nowadays so where I could actually smoke without
    getting grief dwindled greatly; and most importantly, believing that on
    some level I'm hurting, or at least not helping my kids, make me
    believe I did what's best all around. I don't plan to take up smoking
    again after the birth of my second child.
    
    Bottom line, it comes down to a personal decision. Weighed against all
    the societal, peer pressure, medical and other factors, it wasn't worth
    it for me. 
    
    Lynn
    

    I was pretty similar to .12. I had smoked a pack a day for three years
    when I found out I was expecting Daniel. During the second trimester, I
    cut down to 5 or less cigarettes a day. One month before Daniel was
    born, I quit completely and haven't had a cigarette since.

    Daniel was born two weeks late (induced labor) and weighed 6 lbs. 14
    ozs. The doctor said he would be small, but nothing to be concerned
    with, as Frank and I are no giants (I'm 5'2", Frank is 5' 7").

    Frank still smokes, but is trying to cut down. I don't like having
    Daniel subjected to passive smoke, but, being a reformed smoker, I know
    how hard it is to stop. When Frank is ready, he'll quit, until then, we
    use the air "purifier" and open windows to circulate the air.

    Norma

    I smoked approximately 1/2 pack a day during my pregnancy, switching
    to lights when I found out I was pregnant.  I tried but was unable
    to quit and hoped I would get sick at the sight/smell of cigarettes
    but it never happened and I am still smoking.  My son was 6 lbs.
    15 ozs. at birth and has been reasonably healthy other than the
    occasional cold or flu.  Josh is now 2 and we try to restrict our
    smoking around him, especially now that he is mimicing our every
    action.
    
    Pam

    I smoked about a 1 1/2 paks a day with my first child. She was 8 1/2
    lbs, on time and very healthy. She's 14 now and is never sick.
    
    I quit smoking before I got pregnant with my second (now 4 months). She
    was 8 lbs, on time and very healthy.
    
    One of my sisters smoked during both of her pregnancies. The first one
    was 12 1/2 lbs. and the second was 12 lbs 1 oz.
    
    Sheree
    

    I'm wondering of what real value this discussion will be to your
    friend.  No matter what the issue is, you can _always_ find specific
    examples that contradict the generally-accepted wisdom, especially when
    you ask a very small sample of very un-randomly selected people.  Is
    she trying to decide whether to quit smoking?  If 20 people, for
    example, say they smoked thru their whole pregnancy and it didn't make
    any apparent difference, will she keep smoking?  If 10 people report
    problems, will she quit?  I've read the 16 replies here, and I'm just
    wondering what the point is.

    
    Deb...
    
    This was mainly asked as a curiousity factor more than anything...
    I consider the people that partisipate in this notesfile to be 
    "real" people...compared to statistics quoted in books...and we were
    interested in hearing their comments. Thats all.
    I'm sorry that you feel it has no "real value"... Maybe to some others
    it might. (like myself)   
    
    Chris
    

    
    My wife does Daycare for a little boy whose mom smoked thru her
    pregnancy and still smokes along with her husband.  This little kid has
    a frequent hacking cough and is always getting colds or other
    illnesses.  I can't say whether his parents smoking has anything to do
    with it, but I'm sure it's a contributing factor.
    
    					JBG

Well, I'm another one of those "I don't smoke, but my mom did" folks.
I'm an only child.

<    How much did you smoke?

I don't know, but she started smoking when she was 13, I believe, and she
did not smoke infrequently.
    
<    Did your child experience any problems because of your smoking during
<    your pregnancy, the birth, or afterwards?

I'm not sure.  I have many, many allergies (84 at last count), including
tobacco smoke.  I don't know whether that is related or not.
    
<    How big was your child? (lbs?)
<    Premature??

I was 6 lbs, 12 oz, and I was born 3 weeks late.
    
      Carol

    I am the son of two fairly heavy smokers ...
    
    I was light in weight ... sickly as a child (all kinds of things that
    most get once, I got twice!) ... usually top part of my class through
    school ... no allergies ...
    
    Leaving home for university left most of my illnesses behind.
    
    Stuart

    I have one son.  I smoked during my pregnancy.  I have been a smoker
    for about ten years.  When I became pregnant, I could not stop smoking.
    My doctor told me that withdrawal and stress from trying to quit
    could be just as harmful for the baby.  Although he did prefer that
    I quit.  My husband would not let me smoke.  If I lit up in front of
    him, he made me feel terribly guilty by saying things like the
    commercial "Mommy, please don't smoke".  Because of this, I sneaked
    my smokes.  I would hide them all over the house, and every time my
    husband would leave for the store, or whatever, I'd have my chance!
    Thank god my husband was so strict with me.  Also, when I started
    showing, I was embarassed to go in the smoke room here at the office,
    and I was embarassed to smoke in public.  The outcome of all this
    guilt and embarrassment?  I only could smoke about 5 cigarettes per
    day.
    
    My son was born 1 week late, 7 lbs  11 oz.  And healthy!
    
    To this day, (baby is 13 months now), I do not smoke in my house.  We
    go outside on the patio.  And I do not smoke in my car (when the baby
    is with me).

    I quit smoking about three months before getting pregnant.  I smoked
    about 2 packs per day for about 10 years.  It was tough to give up, but
    I'm SO glad I did.  That was about 2 1/2 years ago. 
    
    Nicole was born over two weeks late weighing in at 7 lbs 13 oz.
    
    -Joy
    

    I have smoked a pack a day for almost nine years now, and always swore
    that the moment I found out I was pregnant, I would quit completely.
    Well, I found out for sure I was pregnant just over a week ago, and
    haven't been able to do it. I have managed to cut down to about 5-6 a
    day without much dificulty, but it just seems to be that extra little
    psychological barrier about quitting completely. I am *extremely*
    worried about miscarriage; you seem to hear so much about its
    relationship to smoking, but I just can't seem to give up those 5
    cigarettes. 
    
    I will have to keep trying; if anything did happen, I know I would
    blame myself and my smoking for it.......or maybe I'm just being a
    paranoid first-time mother-to-be ?
    
    /Angela

    Have you considered low-nicotine cigarettes or the cigarette holders
    that reduce your smoke intake?   How about smoking only in
    well-ventilated places, to reduce the ambient smoke in the air?
    
    You could also try practicing a relaxation technique such as stretching
    to relaxing music, yoga, or meditation.  This would probably reduce
    your craving somewhat.
    
    Good luck,
    Laura

Angela,

I haven't attempted to do what you are trying but I'm sure it must be difficult.
You and your little one have my prayers....


Kristen

    I've never smoked and I can imagine how hard it is to quit when you are
    pregnant.   My whole family but myself smoke.
    
    I am putting this behind a spoiler.....I don't mean to upset anyone but
    my husband has been working in labor and delivery and he found out
    something that was very disturbing on smoking.  If you really
    don't want to find out, please hit next unseen....
    
    
    
    
    

    After he delivered one woman, they had to examine the placenta.
    One of the doctors showed him how you could tell when a woman
    smokes during her pregnancy...there are areas on the placenta that are
    black (dead).  You can tell by how much they smoked by how much of the
    placenta is dead.  This is, usually, why the babies are small.  The
    placenta is partly dying before its time and the baby, most likely, is
    not getting proper nourishment to grow properly.
    
    I hope no one is offended by this...I thought it was interesting. 
    Other than the fact the baby's are small, you never really hear of any
    actual effects of smoking.
    

    	.27
    
    	Thanks for that interesting insight.  People often can't
    	see what smoke does to them (or others.)
    
    	Your last line bothers me -- almost as if to appease those
    	who might take issue with your entry.  Kids ARE affected
    	by second-hand smoke just as much if not more than they
    	are the first 9 months in the womb.  Witness many of the 
    	previous replies before .24 asked her questions.  You can
    	often tell from a baby if the parents smoke.  For one thing,
    	they don't smell that special smell of a baby.  They smell
    	of ashes.  They often have slightly yellower skin, and they
    	may display "allergy shiners" -- dark rings under the eyes.
    	(Among other symptoms.)
    
    	.24
    
    	Have you considered hypnosis?  I have a brother-in-law that
    	wanted to quit when his company offered to pay for whatever
    	it took to quit smoking.  Because of this carte-blanche offer,
    	he tried everything.  He was even chewing special gum for awhile.
    	He finally tried hypnosis.  One session with on-going meditative
    	regordings (with subliminal messages, no doubt) as follow-ups
    	has kept him off of cigarettes for over a year now.  He used
    	to be a pack-and-a-half chain smoker.  AND he has not become
    	a binge eater that many reformed smokers become.
    
    	I'm sure you've heard it all from other well-meaning folks just
    	like me.  I just wanted to add another data point from second-
    	hand experience.
    
    	Joe Oppelt

    Thank you all very much for your advice and good wishes.
    
    .27 - I am not at all offended by being told what horrible things the
    smoke is doing, it is actually very helpful ! My cousin's baby (now 18
    months old) has had chest problems and other minor ailments since he
    was born. My cousin is a 20-a-day smoker, and remained so throughout
    her pregnancy.
    
    I saw my doctor yesterday, and told him I had managed to cut down to 5
    cigarettes, also to switch to a low tar brand, and he was full of
    support and encouragement for me, which was nice. He was also very
    positive that I would be able to stop completely as I had cut down my
    intake so quickly. (from 20 to 5 in 3 days)
    
    So thank you all again, I will let you know how I am doing!
    
    /Angela.

    I quit cold turkey, from 3 packs a day, when I saw that the home
    pregnancy test was positive.  I'm not looking for an "attagirl" but
    just want to say it *can* be done (I've had 5 cigarettes in 7 YEARS).
    
    The only things that kept me sane were: 1) believe it or not, keeping a
    pack of cigarettes within reach at all times; and 2) telling myself
    that when the baby was born I could light up the end of a CARTON if I
    wanted to!  And I was a maniac for the first month or so - couldn't
    figure out what to do with my hands or mouth - but having the pack
    available made me feel much better.  I'd just tell myself I wouldn't
    light one up just yet... maybe later (in a few minutes).  It got easier
    to convince myself that *now* wasn't the perfect time to light up.  I
    never really thought I'd light up the end of a carton, but I loved the
    image so much that it would give me a giggle and get me through the
    craving.
    
    After Alex was born I really didn't even think of cigarettes until I
    was out of the hospital (and around smokers), and I couldn't even
    entertain the notion of smoking around that fragile little new life
    that I had to keep alive!!
    
    Good luck, everybody.  I remember struggling with the craving, being so
    frustrated, and then hearing my inner voice say "never mind, I'll just
    have a cigarette and think about it."  AARRGH!
    
    Leslie

    It's 2 years, almost to the day, since I quit, and (I'd forgotten till
    I read the previous reply!), I do remember the ONE thing that made this
    so different was that there was 1/2 pack of cigarettes tucked away in
    the back of the cupboard.  I didn't feel the Urgent Need or the
    Pressure that I would 'never be able to have another', and knew that if
    I REALLY couldn't take it anymore, they were only a reach away.  It was
    funny because I found them about a year later and it seemed strange
    that they'd been there or that I'd ever smoked.
    
    Take it one day at a time - one hour at a time if you need to.  I also
    remember just going to bed early some nights because evening was the
    hardest time of all.  Or the other thing I did the first time I quit
    (for 2 yrs), was to quit gradually, in particular places Don't smoke
    at home, don't smoke at work, don't smoke in the car, or wherever.  The
    last place I gave up was work, and after a long weekend with 'no place
    else' to smoke, it wasn't too bad.
    
    Good Luck!
    Patty

    Patty, I agree !
    
    Work is definitely the most difficult place to give up. I'm finding
    myself wishing now that the smoking ban had been brought in in my
    building - (I can remember how happy I was at the time when I heard it
    had been overruled !)
    
    It is definitely easier not to smoke in the evenings; for one thing I'm
    so tired, I've just been getting home from work, cooking dinner and
    then going to bed (leaving my long-suffering fiance with all the
    washing up and tidying up, ha ha !) so I don't really have the chance
    to smoke. For another thing, when we go out in the evenings, it is
    usually to a pool or darts match, so I have something to concentrate on
    other than smoking. I have also cut out alcohol completely, which also
    reduces (I think) the desire to have a cigarette.
    
    I'm trying to do it in two "stages"; first, cut the habit, for example,
    I would always have a cigarette after a meal, so now I consciously
    don't; and I would always have one with a coffee at about 11 am, so now
    I don't have the coffee, and I don't need the cigarette to go with it.
    
    The second bit, cutting the addiction, is harder. It has been suggested
    to me that I bring some fruit or something in to work, so when that
    nasty craving rears its ugly head, I eat the fruit instead. I'll have
    to see if it works !
    
    I have also found that having a packet of cigarettes with me helps;
    I've been trying the "I could have one if I wanted, but I'm tougher
    than that!" approach, which I think has helped in cutting down as far
    as I have.
    
    Sorry for rambling on, thank you all again!
    
    Angela.

    I smoked for about 15 years before I quit. I tried seriously once
    before I finally quit. I went to a hypnotist and I don't think I could
    have quit without him. The first time it didn't work because I wasn't
    ready. The second time I was. The hypnotist gave me positive suggestions
    that helped to take the edge off. I really didn't feel uneasy or think
    about smoking every minute. I quit before I got pregnant and I'm very
    happy now that I did. I thought I would have one after I had her but
    then I thought  -  what a way to celebrate life...... I'm not preaching
    because I know how tough it is. I wish you well though, because I know
    you'll feel better if you can quit.
    
    Sheree
    

    ** The following article discusses a new study which quantified
       the effect of smoking on babies in utero.  I hope this will
       persuade unconvinced smokers of the risk.
    
    
	Studies:  Smoking has impact on baby
	Birthweight, death linked to exposure

	The Boston Sunday Globe - September 29, 1991
	Reprinted without permission

	This article documents a 1989 study in New Hampshire.  The study
	showed that "for an expectant mother, smoking cigarettes can
	have dire consequences, including infants who weigh less than
	they should or who may not survive."

	"And while low-birthweight babies can receive care so they may
	grow normally, without such care they are prone to health
	problems including increased vulnerability to disease and poor
	or delayed growth, a state official said.  Even if they get
	proper care, the official said, they are still at risk."

	"Premature births and 'intrauterine growth retardation," or slowed
	growth of the fetus, are the main causes of low birthweight.  They 
	are induced primarily by smoking, which constricts blood vessels 
	and impedes the flow of oxygen to the fetus."

	"Expectant mothers who smoke deliver low-birthweight babies - those
	less than 5 pounds 8 ounces - more than twice as frequently as 
	nonsmokers, and they experience the death of a normal wight baby
	nearly twice as often, according to the two studies of New Hampshire
	women by the state Division of Public Health Services. . ."

	"With more than one in five cases of low birthweight in New
	Hampshire babies attributable to maternal smoking, Susan D. Epstein,
	the division's deputy director, said that smoking 'is the single
	most powerful determinant' of low birthweight, which is 'the
	principal cause' of infant mortality in America. . ."

	The article includes a large table.  The following are the total
	numbers from this table:

	Percent of low birth weight to:

	all mothers			5.0%
	smoking mothers			8.3%
	nonsmoking mothers		3.9%
	relative risk			2.1%
	% low birth weight babies
	 attributable to smoking       21.4%

	"Babies whose low birthweight is caused by either premature birth
	or stunted fetal growth are vulnerable to gastrintestinal and
	lung troubles, developmental problems and a high incidence of
	infant mortality, Meehan [dir. of the Div. of Public Health
	Services] said.  The infant mortality rate for low-birthweight
	babies is 40 times the rate for normal babies, he said."