Smoking for smaller babies

Can there be anything more selfish than this: "Pregnant girls smoke to have smaller babies, says minister."

HT: Allah at Hot Air

Comments

[Lawanda]

I can say from experience that there are MANY MANY misinformed women in our so called "civilized" society that would do just this.

Isn't it ridiculous and so sad?

It is like we have all these blessings (wonderful care for almost anyone who needs it, etc) but we insist on being stupid.

[Cineaste]

I think that if a pregnant woman smokes, it just means she is too addicted to cigarettes to quit. This minister was probably gullible enough to believe the excuses these teen women made to justify their addiction. Maybe Lawanda can offer some perspective here but I think pain killing drugs offer a better way to "ease" birth pains than chain smoking.

[Lawanda]

I believe you are right about the minister being gullible. But also, I do know women who did just awful things while pregnant because they'd heard it would make birth "easier". (Which, even with drugs, there is nothing really easy about it! Ack!)

I live in an area inundated with "old wives tales" and some are just so ridiculous, but people BELIEVE them.

I know lots of women who stopped smoking completely while they were pregnant, too. LOTS. It is hard, but very doable. And obviously so much better for the mom, not to mention anyone breathing the same air as she! :)