I think the statistics the antis shout from the roof tops have more to do with socio-economic status than smoking per se. Cigarette smokers do seem to be in higher proportions in the lower economic ranks and those are the same people that tend to have less pre-natal care. Does one cause the other?, who knows - but those kind of numbers can be used to the advantage of anyone who chooses to manipulate them.
I've never heard about smoking affecting IQ, though.
Lucky you. Die-hard antis also claim it causes ADD, ADHD, and learning diabilities. I've also been called a liar by antis when mention of my daughter's advanced state of education is mentioned.
For the record, I am against laws which tell private businesses that they cannot allow smoking. If a restaurant wants to allow smoking, I have the option of not patronizing that place. I also would never support a law telling pregnant women not to smoke, even though I think they're taking a risk.
You're my kind of non-smoker. If and when we should ever meet, I assure you I will respect your preference for smoke-free.
It's true that there could be many different factors.
Die-hard antis also claim it causes ADD, ADHD, and learning diabilities.
I don't believe "ADD" or "ADHD" even exist. But, that's another topic of discussion (on which I've been flamed). The irony is that the same people who want to stop a pregnant woman from smoking would probably want to force a mother into medicating her "ADD" child.
BTW, my mother was a smoker, and here's how she made sure that I didn't become one: She knew that my friends and I had started trying cigarettes (to "look cool", of course). She tried telling me that it was an expensive habit, a bad habit, etc., but that didn't stop me. So, one day, she offered me a cigarette. Then she sat and smoked with me, talking casually. I thought, Wow, I'm really grown up now. I'm smoking with my mother. I always thought she looked so cool because she could blow smoke rings and blow it out her nose... hahaha. But, as we sat there smoking, she started criticizing the way I held the cigarette, the fact that I couldn't inhale correctly, etc. I tried smoking a second time with her, and she did the same thing again. I was so humiliated that I gave up my would-be habit altogether. Not a conventional way to handle a problem, but it worked. ;-)
Gabz, earlier this week I noticed handmade signs taped to the wall with arrows pointing down the hall: "Forensics Shop--Get fingerprints FREE!" 7-year-old grandson had created a working forensics lab, using graphite and tape. Nope, will never believe the "learning disabilities" crap.