All the expectations, hopes, and dreams of the coming birth of a little baby can come crashing down when late in the pregnancy the baby stops kicking and moving.

The mother almost instantly knows something is wrong and a doctor’s exam quickly confirms the baby has died in the womb.

It’s called a “stillbirth,” and it’s absolutely devastating, something no mother or father ever wants to experience.

A new study helps us understand a preventable cause – smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

This study suggests that dual exposure to drinking and smoking after the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with nearly three times the risk of stillbirth.

Other studies have shown that smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy, especially after the first trimester once you know you’re pregnant, are associated with

• early pregnancy loss,
• delivering a small-for-gestational-age baby, and
• even SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome.

To these horrible outcomes, we can now add stillbirth.

If you’re pregnant, don’t smoke or drink, for you and your baby’s health.

© Copyright WLL, INC. 2021. This blog provides healthcare tips and advice that you can trust about a wide variety of general health information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your regular physician. If you are concerned about your health, take what you learn from this blog and meet with your personal doctor to discuss your concerns.