Dear Annie: Smoking while pregnant – do I intervene?

Dear Annie: I am a waitress, and there is a lady I work with who is six months pregnant.

Every time she takes a break, she goes in the back and smokes cigarettes and sometimes she smokes weed. She has been smoking ever since I started four months ago, and I kind of knew that she was pregnant, but I never said anything until she told me.

I’m a mind-your-own-business kind of person, but I have witnessed a family member who suffered from asthma and died from it. Although it may not be the primary cause (or maybe it is; I’m not sure), I know smoking while pregnant increases the chance of the baby to have breathing problems.

She goes to the doctor for prenatal care and stuff, but every time she takes a break, my heart sinks and I feel guilty. Should I say something to her; if yes, what can I say?

Or should I just let her be? – Social Responsibility

Dear Responsibility: Of course smoking is dangerous to the baby, and you are right to be concerned. I suspect the pregnant mother knows this as well. If you condemn her, there is a good chance that it will backfire. She will be angry with you and not change her behavior. So you are in a tough spot.

I would suggest getting to know her as a friend as much as possible and telling her how excited you are about her pregnancy. Gradually, point out that inhaling tobacco smoke and marijuana can cause more damage to babies than doctors realized in the past. You might want to check out the information on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, particularly the following links, which you can share with your fellow waitress when you feel the time is right: www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/pregnancy.html and www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/pregnancy.html. Good luck!

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.