Even smoking just one or two cigarettes a day can significantly harm a newborn, according to a new study. Researchers warn that light smoking during pregnancy can lead to major health problems for babies.
The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, highlights that smoking during pregnancy is known to increase the risks of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and other complications. Despite these risks, about 5% of pregnant women in the U.S. admit to smoking.
To understand the impact of smoking timing and intensity on newborn health, Chinese scientists analyzed data from 12.1 million U.S. births between 2016 and 2019. Mothers reported their smoking habits before pregnancy and throughout each trimester.
The study found that women who smoked were generally younger, white, unmarried, obese, and less educated. They also had more previous births and received less prenatal care.
If a mother smoked just before pregnancy, her newborn’s risk of facing multiple serious health issues increased by 27%. Smoking during pregnancy raised this risk to 31% to 32%. Health issues included breathing difficulties requiring ventilation, admissions to intensive care, seizures, and severe neurological problems.
Smoking one or two cigarettes a day before pregnancy increased the risk of these issues by 16%. The risk rose by 31% for mothers who smoked 20 or more cigarettes daily.
The study’s authors noted some limitations. They could not distinguish between women who smoked at any point in the three months before pregnancy and those who smoked throughout this period. Additionally, data on secondhand smoke exposure was not available.
Despite these limitations, the researchers emphasize that no level of cigarette consumption is safe before or during pregnancy.
Dr. Victor Klein, director of quality and patient safety at Northwell Health System, advises women to use nicotine patches and undergo behavioral therapy before conceiving. He suggests these measures to help avoid smoking or vaping during pregnancy.
Klein, who was not involved in the study, noted that smokers often underreport their habits. “This study, with its large sample size, underscores that smoking even small amounts of cigarettes is unsafe during pregnancy. It’s best to quit smoking before pregnancy for a safer outcome,” he told The Post.
