How dangerous is second hand smoke to a fetus? I live at home and my parents smoke and there is no stopping them...

As far as I know, it is more dangerous than you smoking because you are inhaling the smoke unfiltered.

OMG it's so bad for them. Please, PLEASE read this to find out exactly how bad it can be.

If you've told you parents already, maybe they will offer to go outside to smoke while you are pregnant. If not, you need to try and stay as far away from it as you can. The artical is excellent.

There are also relatively inexpensive air purifyers that you can get at like Wal-mart. Put one in your room so you have at least one place of clean air to go if they won't smoke outside.

Yes Stop Smoking and the Federation to Destroy Second Hand smoke do use facts in their movement, but the truth is that the numbers are up to interpretation and in instances of second hand smoke and lung cancer the numbers are only 1/10th of a percent apart from non-second hand smoke cancer. There are other numbers which suggest that the risk is low, the hype and the interpretation of these numbers would suggest to the listener that second hand smoke will kill them, no ifs ands or butts about it.

Logically any risk is no good, thus it is suggested (even by me) that one reduces the risks by removing the second hand smoke. But, just remember that several generations of babies were born with no problems and mom smoked, dad smoked, every where they went smoke filled rooms were found.

The risk of any damage or injury or illness from second hand smoke is so small that you have a greater chance of death in the car. Are you going to shun the auto? More pedestrians are maimed, killed or injured than through second had smoke so you sure can't walk to all those places you need to go.

The Panic behind the fear movement (Which there are several fear movements out there) is there to win a cause which in many cases has a low risk, but we take greater risks with other things (like driving) which in the light of that makes no sense.

What does this all mean?That means you don't have to hold your breath when you walk into the house and mom and dad are smoking. It doesn't mean that you or the baby is in any immediate threat. It means that there is a risk (a small one at that) that second hand smoke may cause fetal issues, birth defects, lung cancer and other things. All of these things can be effected by other things in the environment including (but not limited to) the Off gassing of chemicals from floor carpeting. Off gassing of chemicals from; Dry wall, OSB/Particle board (found in furniture, construction, everywhere), Lead (still in many pipes in all cities including municipal water lines) Carbon monoxide (created while cooking, heating and even in brand new cars). There are many environmental factors with as much (sometimes more) risks that are played down or not mentioned at all. Even these statistics and facts are used to sell "air purifiers" however these are far below FDA standards and are considered to be nearly risk free.

Everywhere you turn there is a risk. Please do not panic. Approaching the subject sanely and rationally and knowing that it is a risk, not a certitude of disaster.

David

While David is right that you shouldn't panic, I will point out that the chances of low birth weight, pre-term labor, and asthma in the child ARE increased with smoking and second hand smoke. If you can't avoid it, you can't avoid it; if you can, you should.

(there are generations of children with avoidable asthma who walked through those smoke-filled rooms, David I had asthma as a child--trust me, it's no fun!)

I have a picture of a woman I know, in the hospital, when she gave birth to triplets and you can see the pack of cigarettes on the table next to her bed. It's hard to believe that smoking was allowed IN your hospital bed at one time!!!

I don't smoke, but I often wonder about "second hand smoke". Why is it so much more dangerous? A smoker is exposed to 1st AND 2nd hand smoke... so I've never been able to figure this out!