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Experts Answers

Christina Chambers
epidemiologist

It's wise to avoid secondhand tobacco smoke as much as possible. Even if you're not the one smoking, some of the contaminants will get into your bloodstream if you're inhaling secondhand smoke. The more you're around someone who's smoking, the more of these contaminants you can absorb.

Studies have shown that pregnant women exposed to someone else's tobacco smoke sometimes give birth to babies who weigh less than the babies of women who aren't exposed.

Jennifer R. Niebyl
ob-gyn

We know that smoking itself causes problems with the placenta, reduces the baby's weight, and affects his IQ. Whether secondhand smoke puts you and your baby at risk for the same things is unknown. But since we're sure that firsthand smoke is harmful, it's a good idea to be cautious about secondhand smoke.