Oct 24 2024 1 mins 5
A persistent American myth holds that it can be safe to smoke during pregnancy if it’s just a tiny bit.
A new study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, however, reiterates that the number of cigarettes that can be safely lit by an expectant mother is easy to calculate.
It’s zero, zip, nada.
Researchers say it’s best to quit smoking before conception because any amount of smoking can cause harm to the baby. Even light smoking, defined as one to two cigarettes a day, can spell trouble for a fetus. Potential ills include premature birth, low birthweight, and developmental issues.
Unfortunately, 1 in 10 expectant mothers in the U.S. smoke.
Scientists also noted that the corollary to the myth that the first three months of pregnancy is the safest time to smoke is also hogwash.
Smoking is one of the most dangerous habits and is the cause of nearly a half-million preventable deaths each year in the United States, pregnant or not.
Cigarettes greatly increase the odds of numerous cancers, heart disease, lung ailments, eye disease, and even dental problems.
For this study, scientists reviewed data from more than 12 million births in the U.S. that qualified for inclusion. The mothers were asked how much they smoked. About 7% smoked in the first trimester and 6% in the second and third.
Moms across the smoking spectrum were shown to have a higher incidence of health problems for their babies than nonsmokers. The risk of harming the baby is higher still for mothers who smoked before pregnancy.
The lesson for all Americans is that smoking is incredibly dangerous, perhaps most so for the most vulnerable — newborns.
