maternal smoking

According to the study, only 50% of women stop smoking during
pregnancy and of those, less than 35% maintain a smoke-free environment
four years after birth.

The smoking bans were put in place to protect non-smokers from the
health effects of second-hand smoke, but the effects have also reached
pregnant women. According to a new study published in BMJ, smoking bans in Belgium have reduced preterm birth rates.

A recent study published in the journal Pediatric Obesity claims
parental smoking habits may have more impact on offspring BMI than
maternal smoking habits during pregnancy. Information for the study was
collected from the German Ulm Birth Cohort Study of 2000.

Secondhand smoke is extremely dangerous around pregnant women, but is the same true for newborn babies? Many studies point to the fact that it is very dangerous. 

PPROM or preterm premature rupture of membranes is considered more
dangerous than PROM (premature rupture of membranes). PROM occurs after
the 37th week of gestation, but labor soon follows.

Pregnant women are warned about the effects of smoking during pregnancy
from the first obstetric visits. While smoking can cause premature birth and
reduced birth weight, it now appears there is a long-term risk to worry
about as well.

Breastfeeding is natural, but sometimes a new mother’s body just doesn’t respond
like it ought to. There are a few common problems that mothers may run
into, but understanding the logic behind it may help you get through it.

When babies are deprived of oxygen in utero, brain damage can result. Researchers have found a connection between brain damage and a fatty acid molecule, which could spark new treatment protocols to reduce the risk of brain damage.

Researchers at the University of California have found a link between chemicals used to reduce fire risk on household items and lower birth weights.

SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, refers to death occurring in infants with no known cause.According to this study on the effect of smoking on SIDS rates, parents who choose to smoke increase the risk of their infants dying from SIDS three times.

More and more studies are being released connecting fetal habits with lifelong side effects in children. According to researchers, nicotine increases fetal blood pressure, which could lead to increased risk for heart disease and high blood pressure later in life.

A study out of Orebro University in Sweden has linked smoking to increased risk of fetal coordination and motor skill problems. Researchers narrowed down the results noting boys tend to be more affected than girls.