Preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth and perinatal death all are associated with smoking during pregnancy.
A recent research, from Australia, included data from nearly a quarter of million women who had two consecutive singleton deliveries (live and stillborn) during a 10 year period.
Relevant demographic data (eg parity, maternal age, birth interval, smoking status) and obstetric data (eg birth weight, gestation at delivery, gestation diabetes) were collected during each pregnancy. The smoking data enabled the researchers to analyze the effect of continuation, reduction or cessation of smoking between the two pregnancy.
Women who smoked during both pregnancies had almost double the risk of preterm birth (8.4% compared with 4.1%) in the second pregnancy compared with non-smokers. Women who stopped smoking before the second pregnancy, had a higher incidence of adverse outcomes compared with totally non-smokers, but not as high as those continued their smoking during both pregnancies.
When stillbirth and perinatal deaths were analyzed, gestational age, previous perinatal death and maternal smoking were all found to be significant independent variables.
Smoking is hazardous in pregnancy. It increase the risk of a small-for-dates baby, preterm birth and perinatal death. Its adverse effects are dose dependant, so it is worthwhile congratulating pregnant women who have managed to cut down.
The Researchers state that "fundamentally, healthy pregnancies begin before conception." So pre-pregnancy smoking cessation or reduction should be a priority.
A recent research, from Australia, included data from nearly a quarter of million women who had two consecutive singleton deliveries (live and stillborn) during a 10 year period.
Relevant demographic data (eg parity, maternal age, birth interval, smoking status) and obstetric data (eg birth weight, gestation at delivery, gestation diabetes) were collected during each pregnancy. The smoking data enabled the researchers to analyze the effect of continuation, reduction or cessation of smoking between the two pregnancy.
Women who smoked during both pregnancies had almost double the risk of preterm birth (8.4% compared with 4.1%) in the second pregnancy compared with non-smokers. Women who stopped smoking before the second pregnancy, had a higher incidence of adverse outcomes compared with totally non-smokers, but not as high as those continued their smoking during both pregnancies.
When stillbirth and perinatal deaths were analyzed, gestational age, previous perinatal death and maternal smoking were all found to be significant independent variables.
Smoking is hazardous in pregnancy. It increase the risk of a small-for-dates baby, preterm birth and perinatal death. Its adverse effects are dose dependant, so it is worthwhile congratulating pregnant women who have managed to cut down.
The Researchers state that "fundamentally, healthy pregnancies begin before conception." So pre-pregnancy smoking cessation or reduction should be a priority.
