Pregnant women that smoke cigarettes on a daily basis can greatly harm their fetus. The Tobacco smoke in cigarettes greatly reduces fetal growth through the presence of nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, cadmium and various other aromatic hydrocarbons, but the two most dangerous chemicals that are found in cigarettes are nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine causes the babies heart rate to speed up, reduces placental vascularisation, constricts the placental arteries, and thickens the endothelium of …showed first 75 words of 998 total…

…showed last 75 words of 998 total…fetus, by causing growth retardation. Another harmful disease that can affect the fetus is Rubella or otherwise called German Measles. Pregnant woman that have Rubella during the first trimester can effect the fetus and cause a syndrome of birth defects called congenital rubella syndrome. This can cause deafness, cataracts, congenital heart disease, and mental retardation. In conclusion, pregnant women should try to avoid all substances that can be potentially harmful to the fetus within them.