I Forgive You Mama...You Growth Stunter You

Smoking While Pregnant May Raise Psychiatric Risks in Kids:
Study found the more cigarettes a woman smoked, the greater the chances of psychiatric problems.

TUESDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- A woman who smokes while pregnant increases her baby's risk of developing psychiatric problems in childhood and young adulthood, a new Finnish study suggests.

While there's plenty of evidence that smoking during pregnancy puts unborn children at risk for long-term health problems such as asthma, ear infections and respiratory disease, this research is among the first to find a connection between prenatal smoking and an increased risk for mental illnesses, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression, in the mother's offspring. The risk was even higher in the offspring of women who smoked more than a pack a day while pregnant. Their kids were 44 percent more likely to use psychiatric drugs than children whose moms didn't smoke.

Now Mama, I know that you and your six sisters all had big babies. I also know that folk wisdom back then said that if you were prone to have big babies, a little sip and a little cig would assist in you having smaller but healthy ones. I also realize that Camel cigarettes had an ad campaign back then touting that "More Doctors smoked Camels than any other brand". I've often said that I could have gone on to greatness if you hadn't smoked and drank during your pregnancy with me. It's ok mom. I'm happy with how you treated me in utero and how I've turned out.

This photo of you-sooo pregnant with me and sooo not wanting your picture taken is one of my treasures. With Mother's Day on the cusp, I just wanted to say again that I never really wanted to be a member of Mensa anyway, that my gifts are modest but I've learned to amplify them in ways that sometimes still astonish me, that being tall dark and handsome is overrated and thanks be to God that some women enjoy spending time with elfin fellas that are funny.

Onward-Anyway. ADG