We all know that smoking is injurious to health, still, many of us tend to smoke as it works as a stress buster. However, for women particularly, smoking not only affects the lungs but can also pose a risk to fertility. Many women quit smoking once they find out they are pregnant and pay more attention to the warnings found on every cigarette packet about the dangers of smoking during pregnancy. However, questions often arise about whether there is a "safe period" for smoking during pregnancy and if quitting before conception is necessary. A new study provides answers to these concerns.

The study, conducted in China and published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that even light smoking (one to two cigarettes daily) before pregnancy can lead to serious health issues for the newborn. It reinforces the well-established belief that smoking at any stage of pregnancy is harmful to the developing fetus. Based on these findings, women are advised to quit smoking while still trying to conceive to avoid any risks to their future children.

Researchers collected and analyzed data from the US National Vital Statistics System, focusing on birth certificates from 2016 to 2019. The study included information from 12,150,535 mother-newborn pairs, examining the number of cigarettes smoked per day, which ranged from none to more than 20. The findings showed that the timing of smoking during pregnancy significantly impacts fetal health, and the study debunks the myth that light smoking is less harmful if it occurs before or during the first three months of pregnancy.

Risks Associated With Smoking During Pregnancy

Smoking during pregnancy poses numerous risks to both the mother and the developing fetus. Here are some of the key risks associated with smoking while pregnant:

- Babies born to mothers who smoke are more likely to have a low birth weight (less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces). Low birth weight is associated with a range of health problems, including difficulty in maintaining body temperature, feeding difficulties, and a higher risk of infections.

- Smoking increases the risk of preterm birth, which is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm birth can lead to complications such as respiratory issues, gastrointestinal problems, and long-term developmental delays.

- Smoking can cause complications with the placenta, the organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to the developing fetus. These complications include placental abruption (where the placenta detaches from the womb prematurely) and placenta previa (where the placenta covers the cervix), both of which can cause severe bleeding and pose risks to both mother and baby.

- Babies born to mothers who smoke are at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is the sudden, unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby, usually during sleep.

- Smoking during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of congenital abnormalities, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, heart defects, and limb malformations.

- Exposure to nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes can affect the brain development of the fetus, leading to cognitive impairments, behavioural issues, and a higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in later life.

- Babies exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy are more likely to develop respiratory issues, such as asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia, both at birth and later in life.

- Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, which is the loss of a baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The harmful chemicals in cigarettes can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the fetus, contributing to these outcomes.

- Smoking is a risk factor for ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube. This condition is life-threatening for the mother and cannot result in a viable pregnancy.

- Children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing long-term health issues, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular problems.

The research reveals that "there is no safe period or safe level of cigarette smoking shortly before or during pregnancy." The authors highlighted that the study's findings "underscore the importance of preventing smoking initiation among non-smokers and promoting smoking cessation among current smokers." The study revealed that "newborns of smokers had a higher likelihood of needing assisted ventilation after birth, prolonged assisted ventilation for over 6 hours, NICU admission for mechanical ventilation, and surfactant replacement therapy. They also faced greater risks of sepsis, seizures, and neurological issues."

Furthermore, the study found that "smoking before pregnancy was linked to a 27 per cent higher risk of newborn health problems, which increased to 31 per cent to 32 per cent if the mother smoked at any time during pregnancy." It also noted that "even smoking just 1 to 2 cigarettes a day before pregnancy raised the risk of newborn health complications by 16 per cent, with the risk increasing to 31 per cent for mothers who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day."

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