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Harmful Effects on the Fetus From the Mother Smoking Cigarettes

While the harmful effects of smoking are commonly discussed in American society, there seems to be less information available concerning the potentially harmful effects that a mother's tobacco use may have upon her unborn child.

  1. Significance

    • According to the Surgeon General's 2004 report on the effects of smoking during pregnancy, a mother's tobacco use increases the risk of pregnancy complications, stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

    Nicotine

    • The Surgeon General's report advises that the nicotine in cigarettes may cause restrictions in the blood vessels of the umbilical cord and uterus, thus resulting in decreased oxygen supplies to the fetus.

    Theories/Speculation

    • In March 2005 the "Journal of the American Medical Association" (JAMA) published the results of a preliminary Spanish study, which concluded that maternal smoking may be linked to chromosomal instability, possibly resulting in an increased risk of pediatric malignancies.

    Low-Weight Babies

    • The 2004 Surgeon General's report informs that babies born to mothers who smoke have lower birth weights. These are a leading cause of infant death.

    Considerations

    • Other harmful effects of maternal smoking include the introduction of nicotine into the mother's breast milk and the potential reduction of the child's lung function.

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