Final answer:
For a pregnant woman looking to quit smoking, the use of nicotine gum might be a suitable smoking cessation aid, providing a controlled dose of nicotine while avoiding the other harmful substances found in cigarettes. Use of this aid should still be discussed with a healthcare provider to ensure the safety and well-being of both the mother and the developing baby. the correct option is (c).
Step-by-step explanation:
The most appropriate advice for a pregnant woman seeking help for smoking cessation while pregnant would be to consider nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine gum, which delivers a lower dose of nicotine compared to smoking cigarettes. This could be safer for the developing baby as the dose is managed to be enough to reduce withdrawal symptoms without the high. Nicotine gum is considered a smoking cessation aid and while it has its downsides such as potential cardiovascular effects, it may be a preferable alternative over continuing to smoke due to the risks of miscarriages, low-birth-weight infants, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) associated with smoking during pregnancy.
Options like bupropion (pregnancy category C) and varenicline (pregnancy category B) are medications that could potentially be used for smoking cessation; however, the safety of these medicines during pregnancy is not well established, and the risks versus benefits should be carefully evaluated by a healthcare provider. Moreover, the statement that the use of smoking cessation products frequently leads to adverse outcomes is too broad and does not take into account the varying risks associated with different types of smoking cessation methods.