Smoking When Pregnant Causes Serious Birth Defects

Topic: Pregnancy Information
Author: March of Dimes Foundation
Published: 2011/07/15 - Updated: 2022/02/11
Contents: Summary - Introduction - Main - Related

Synopsis: Maternal smoking causes a range of serious birth defects including heart defects missing or deformed limbs clubfoot gastrointestinal disorders and facial disorders. About 20 percent of women in the United States reported smoking in 2009. Around the world, about 250 million women use tobacco every day and this number is increasing rapidly, according to data presented at the 2009 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Mumbai. Babies who survive being born prematurely and at low birth-weight are at risk of other serious health problems, Dr. Katz notes, including lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and learning problems.

Introduction

First-ever review finds smoking causes serious birth defects - March of Dimes urges women to quit smoking to save babies.

Main Digest

To dispel any uncertainty about the serious harm caused by smoking to babies and pregnant women, the first-ever comprehensive systematic review of all studies over the past 50 years has established clearly that maternal smoking causes a range of serious birth defects including heart defects, missing/deformed limbs, clubfoot, gastrointestinal disorders, and facial disorders (for example, of the eyes and cleft lip/palate).

Smoking during pregnancy is also a risk factor for premature birth, says Dr. Michael Katz, senior Vice President for Research and Global Programs of the March of Dimes. He says the March of Dimes urges all women planning a pregnancy or who are pregnant to quit smoking now to reduce their chance of having a baby born prematurely or with a serious birth defect.

Babies who survive being born prematurely and at low birth-weight are at risk of other serious health problems, Dr. Katz notes, including lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and learning problems. Smoking also can make it harder to get pregnant, and increases the risk of stillbirth.

About 20 percent of women in the United States reported smoking in 2009. Around the world, about 250 million women use tobacco every day and this number is increasing rapidly, according to data presented at the 2009 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Mumbai.

The new study, "Maternal smoking in pregnancy and birth defects: a systematic review based on 173,687 malformed cases and 11.7 million controls," by a team led by Allan Hackshaw, Cancer Research UK & UCL Cancer Trials Center, University College London, will be published online today in Human Reproduction Update from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

When women smoke during pregnancy, the unborn baby is exposed to dangerous chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar, Dr. Katz says. These chemicals can deprive the baby of oxygen needed for healthy growth and development.

During pregnancy, smoking can cause problems for a woman's own health, including:

Smoking is also known to cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, gum disease and eye diseases that can lead to blindness.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by March of Dimes Foundation, and published on 2011/07/15 (Edit Update: 2022/02/11), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, March of Dimes Foundation can be contacted at marchofdimes.org. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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Cite This Page (APA): March of Dimes Foundation. (2011, July 15 - Last revised: 2022, February 11). Smoking When Pregnant Causes Serious Birth Defects. Disabled World. Retrieved September 10, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/health/female/pregnancy/smoking-pregnant.php

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