A recent study reveals that even minimal cigarette consumption before pregnancy can have serious consequences for newborns. Researchers caution that “light smoking,” defined as just one or two cigarettes a day, can lead to significant health problems for infants.
While it is well-established that smoking during pregnancy increases the likelihood of preterm delivery, low birth weight, restricted fetal growth, and other complications, a concerning 5% of pregnant women in the United States still report smoking.
The study, conducted by scientists in China, aimed to determine how the timing and intensity of cigarette smoking impact newborn health. The researchers analyzed data from 12.1 million U.S. births between 2016 and 2019, collecting information on the mothers’ smoking habits three months before pregnancy and during each trimester.
The findings indicate that women who smoked were generally younger, white, unmarried, obese, and less educated, with more prior births and limited prenatal care.
The study revealed that if a mother smoked just before pregnancy, her newborn’s risk of facing multiple major health issues increased by 27%. This risk escalated to 31% to 32% if smoking continued during pregnancy. Health complications included newborns requiring ventilation machines, admission to intensive care units, seizures, or severe neurological problems.
Even smoking as little as one or two cigarettes a day before pregnancy raised the risk of these issues by 16%. For those smoking 20 or more cigarettes daily, the risk surged to 31%.
The researchers emphasized that their data did not distinguish between those who smoked at any time during the three months before pregnancy and those who smoked consistently throughout that period. Additionally, the study did not account for secondhand smoke exposure. Despite these limitations, the study’s authors stressed that there is “no safe period and no safe level of cigarettes consumed shortly before or during pregnancy.”
Dr. Victor Klein, director for quality and patient safety in obstetrics and gynecology at Northwell Health System, underscored the importance of quitting smoking before pregnancy. He advised the use of nicotine patches and behavioral therapy to develop coping strategies to avoid smoking or vaping during pregnancy. Klein also noted that smokers often underreport their cigarette consumption to healthcare providers and in surveys.
“This study, which includes a large number of pregnancies, clearly indicates that smoking even small amounts is unsafe during pregnancy,” Klein, who was not involved in the research, told The Post. “The best course of action is to stop smoking prior to pregnancy for the safest outcome.”