Yes, probably perceived as mean. (Also, it may have adverse effects, and YOU would have caused them . . . .) Unless she grew up under a rock, she's already aware of the ill effects her smoking could have, and has chosen this behavior anyway. Then again, you don't know--maybe she's a crack cocaine addict and is smoking as the lesser of her evils and that's the most she can do. We don't all know everybody else's story. So you would do nothing--because even though everybody probably agrees with you, it's not your call.

Honestly, what can you do. Although, what she's doing is clearly wrong I've got to go with Clairsie on this one. It's none of your business, it's none of your concern and this is not at all to come off rude, just so we're all clear on that. It's one of those things you don't know her history. Maybe, she is addicted to crack, maybe she had just found out something really bad, who knows. The only thing you can do is if you're religous pray for her baby and if you're not than just hope the baby is okay. It's a tough call, but you've got to remember that it's her and her babies life and there's nothing any of us can do to stop someone from smoking while pregnant.

I try not to make assumptions. It is never a pleasant thing to see a pregnant woman smoking, however you cannot begin to know her circumstances.

I had a friend who is a smoker and she was actually advised to cut back as much as she could without stressing her pregnancy. By the end of her pregnancy she was down to just 1 a day. Is that healthy for the baby, no. I can see that neither would the intense stress that she would have had, had she tried to quit completely.

If it is a friend you can politely try to educate her. If it is not a friend then you have to just let it go unfortunately.

I always hate when I see a mother-to-be smoking. I agree with what people are saying about we don't know what another person's situation is but in the same regard they're carrying a life inside them and it's their responsibility to take care of that life.

People know the problems with smoking. They know it's a risk to their own health and their baby but they're going to smoke, regardless of what anyone else say's to them.

What they don't realise is that it won't just affect them and their child. The problems that it creates for their child can trickle down to any grandchildren they might have.

It's a sad fact of life but people will do what they're going to do, regardless of consequences.

I simply bow my head and silently pray for the baby and his/her health!!!

I see this all the time and it honestly makes me sick to my stomach...."you love your unborn but your willing to poison him/her????"

On a good note...my best friend is a smoker and when she became pregnant...I told her that every time she wanted a cigarette to call me and well go down to the beach and take a walk and chew peppermint gum!! LOL she smoked menthol cigs...so the walk and the gum helped a lot....and I am proud to say her baby was 9 1/2 lbs and very healthy!!! And together we kept the cigs out of her hand for the duration of the pregnancy!!!

Do nothing, it is none of your business. No, I'm not a pregnant smoker. I am simply someone who believes that what a person decides to do is their own business.

Of course we know that smoking is unhealthy. We also know that it is an addiction. The main affect of smoking on an unborn child is low birth weight.

If more people would worry about themselves and their families rather than worry about what someone else is doing we would all be better off.

i have a friend that had to smoke the hole time she was with child... for her to stope all together would put to much stress on the baby and she would lose her.

(btw she didn`t know she was pregnant until the 2nd trimester so she was still smoking)

To be honest, I don't have guts to go up to them and tell them it's really bad for their baby.

However, we need to think about "Individualism" which has spread out all over the world.

I wonder it really is none of our business or our calls. It's their lives, and we can live just our lives?

Maybe our ignorance and less careness could cause more dysfunctional families or more crimes.

I have no idea what could be the answers, we, however, have to think about that seriously imo.

I have also heard of doctor's recomending that heavy smokers cut back during their pregnancy rather than quitting all together, due to the potential risk of miscarriage. I always hope this is the explaination when I see pregnant women smoking. However, there is no excuse for pregnant women to drink alcohol. Half a glass of wine is ok but two or more???? I have been in restaurants where women are doing this and once I notice them I cannot put it out of my mind for the rest of the evening.

The short answer: You say nothing; it's none of your business, period. The only person who can or should make any comment to the pregnant woman about smoking is her doctor.

The long answer: Okay, here's the score with this. Smoking does have potential impact to the fetus. The greater impact is to the mother, though. The two biggest risks with pregnancy and smoking are low birth weight and miscarriage. Many studies have been conducted trying to link fetal nicotine exposure to all sorts of conditions (ie ADHD) - and almost all of those results are inconlusive. In fact, what the healthcare industry doesn't like to discuss (because of the very real negative effects caused by smoking) is that nicotine is the only natural cognitive enhancing substance - at least that was true a few years ago (I don't know if another natural substance of this kind has since been discovered). I've been pregnant three times, I smoked through all three pregnancies (though I admittedly cut back - my OB/Gyn advised me to NOT quit due to the risk of fetal stress or miscarriage). My children's weights at birth were: 7 lbs 9oz, 6 lbs 11 oz, and 7 lbs 14 oz - respectively. Their ages now are 17yrs, 11.5yrs, and 4 months, respectively. There have been no adverse effects, all of my children are extremely healthy. My older kids find smoking disgusting and are constantly on my case to quit - and from them, I can deal with the admonitions. From a complete stranger? No. Pregnant and hormonal? A definite no.

I agree with Angie Russell and others: we all know that smoking can harm the unborn baby but it's not our business. It's between that mother to be and her conscience.  So, we do nothing and say nothing.

I just told her politely that  "Dear Lady! please abstain from smoking at least in your pregnancy! this would be harmful to you and ofcourse your baby! you know! that god could not be everywhere, so he made mothers"

Hope she will pay attention to it