Pregnant Females Should Never Smoke

DR. WALLACE: I'm 20, married and recently found out that my husband and I will become parents in about six months. We're really excited. Both of us are only children, but we plan on having a large family.

I don't drink alcohol of any kind, but I do smoke. I talked to my doctor about smoking while pregnant and the dangers it could cause to the unborn child. All he said was that it would be better for my health to stop smoking, but that there is no definitive proof that smoking could hurt the baby.

Is this true? I'd really like to continue smoking because I'm really addicted to tobacco and truly believe that smoking helps calm my nerves. Do you have any information to challenge what my personal physician told me? — Juliette, St. Louis.

JULIETTE: There must be a miscommunication between you and your doctor. It's difficult for me to believe that a medical doctor would not unequivocally warn a pregnant woman to stop smoking immediately, for the baby's health as well as her own.

Health advocates have recently launched a campaign aimed at getting pregnant women to kick the habit. About 13 percent of pregnant women admit they smoke, according to the American Legacy Foundation, a public health group.

Please discuss smoking while pregnant once again with your doctor. Take this column with your questions and my response with you. Make sure the doctor reads it and explains the risks to you.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT GUYS LIKE FOR GIFTS

DR. WALLACE: I'm 15 and have my first boyfriend. Jimmy is going to have his 16th birthday in three weeks, and I want to buy him a birthday gift that doesn't cost more than $25. Since I'm not really sure what guys like for gifts, I'm asking you for a few suggestions. — Jan, Hackensack, N.J.

JAN: For $25 or less, you can subscribe to a sports magazine for a year, purchase a wallet, pick out an interesting T-shirt or buy him a gift certificate, especially one at a fast-food restaurant or a store that sells CDs or videos. You could also select a good book, help him devour a large box of chocolates, or give him a homeless pet from your local animal shelter.

If all else fails, three pairs of socks or the polka-dot tie will do when you run out of time and are desperate!

I TOOK YOUR ADVICE AND IT WORKED!

DR. WALLACE: I'm writing in regard to your reply to Sherry. She was upset that her mother didn't approve of her best friend. You suggested that Sherry invite her friend to her house from time to time, so her mother could actually get to know her.

I want you to know that your answer to Sherry just helped me go to the winter formal with Ted. My mom wasn't going to let me go with him because she didn't approve of him. When I read your column, I applied the same principle to my mom. I invited Ted over twice before the dance, and once she got to know that he really was a super guy, she said it was OK for me to attend the formal with him.

We had a great time. All I want to say is: Thanks, Mom, for being an understanding mother, and thanks, Dr. Wallace, for your excellent advice! —Melanie, St. Paul, Minn.

MELANIE: That's wonderful news. Congratulations for refusing to accept defeat.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM