Pregnancy is a life-changing event for women. In fact, it is an altruistic act. Almost all women change their lifestyle during pregnancy. For example, they change or control their diet and restrict certain activities. However, some pregnant women may still drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes. The risk a pregnant woman takes from drinking or smoking is a higher likelihood that this behavior could harm the unborn baby in her womb. Doctors recommend that all pregnant women refrain from smoking or drinking alcohol while pregnant. Women should not drink because it is medically proven that the result will be a baby born prematurely or with low birth weight. There may also be breathing problems and the baby may have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The mother may even have a miscarriage. It is because of this plethora of problems related to smoking or drinking alcohol while a woman is pregnant that doctors advise against this practice. So, if a woman drinks alcohol or smokes while knowing she is pregnant, should she be charged with the crime of harming or assaulting the helpless human inside her? I believe she should be charged since the helpless unborn child that exists inside her is defenseless. There is one case where the unborn child is considered a living human being and another proves that the fetus in the womb is a purely non-existent human being. A 38-year-old man from El Paso, Texas, has been charged with two counts of murder after killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child (Evia). But in the state of Texas, abortion is legal, so how can this case be a double homicide when entering an abortion clinic to take the life of an unborn child is legal? In these two examples, you are equivalent to...... middle of paper ......009. Internet. March 11, 2014. .Man charged with murder following death of pregnant woman and unborn baby. Np, December 24, 20013. Web. March 11, 2014. .Mokate, Tefo. Is it safe to drink alcohol during pregnancy?. BabyCenter, July 2013. Web. May 21, 2014. .Prosecution of “bad” mothers. Np, April 25, 2012. Web. March 11, 2014. .Schwarz, Richard H. Drinking, smoking and your pregnancy. Np, and Web. March 11. 2014. .