The more that is understood about newborn birth defects, the clearer it is that a mom-to-be really has a great deal of control over her future baby's health.

The younger a smoker is that decides to quit, obviously the better for their health. Women in their golden years can receive immediate benefits from quitting.

The opinions keep flowing in. If a woman cares about the health of her newborn, she has no choice but to quit smoking. A comprehensive review dispels any remaining myth that smoking during pregnancy is harmless.

Nicotine addiction is one of the toughest habits to kick. Expecting moms have an added incentive: their newborn's health. For your baby, quitting early in pregnancy is almost as good as being a non-smoker.

It's no secret that smoking during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight or even miscarriage. But new research suggests smoking while pregnant can also affect children later in life.

Past studies have shown that women smokers have a higher risk of cervical cancer. Now, new research shows that second-hand smoke may damage cells in a woman's cervix, increasing her risk of cervical cancer.