Air pollution is the result of harmful substances in the air. These harmful substances include car exhaust,  dust, pollen, mold and  chemicals from factories. These substances can affect your breathing and harm your health.

Most women who live around areas with high levels of air pollutants  have healthy babies. However it wouldn’t hurt to protect yourself to have a healthier baby.

What is the effect of air pollution on my pregnancy ?

Research indicate that coming into contact with high levels of air pollutants during pregnancy slightly increases your chances of having a premature or small baby. Other research also indicate that being exposed to certain pollutants affects  your child’s intelligence in future.

Pollution in the air  can also affect the general health of pregnancy. It can cause  coughing, tightness of chest and burning of the eye. These problems can even worsen if you have asthma.

How can you protect yourself from air pollution during pregnancy .

These tips can help you protect yourself  .

• if you leave near a source of air pollution or have a condition such as asthma, you should talk to your health care provider about ways to stay safe from air pollution
• when an air pollution or smog alert is given by local health officials, stay inside or limit your stay outside. Ozone gas is a major form of air pollution in cities. When ozone forms air pollution, it’s  called smog. Go outside early in the morning or after sunset on alert days.
• you can visit airnow.gov  to check the air quality in your area