Recent research has unveiled a shocking truth – smoking even just one or two cigarettes a day in the months prior to or during pregnancy can significantly elevate the risk of severe health problems for the baby.
The findings of the study highlighted in this article emphasized that there is no safe period or safe level of smoking when it comes to pregnancy. Even at low levels, smoking was found to be correlated with increased risks such as newborns needing neonatal intensive care, requiring assisted ventilation, developing bloodstream infections, experiencing seizures, and various other major health issues.
MORE: New COVID-19 shots will be available soon, and Philly doctors say most people should get them
Surprisingly, smoking just one to two cigarettes a day before pregnancy led to a 16% higher risk of serious health issues in newborns. On the other hand, smoking 20 or more cigarettes daily increased the risk by 31%, as revealed by the study.
During pregnancy, the risk of a newborn requiring intensive care was 13% higher for women smoking one to two cigarettes daily and 29% higher for those smoking 20 cigarettes or more, according to the research.
Furthermore, mothers who quit smoking during pregnancy were found to have a higher risk of delivering babies who needed assisted ventilation, intensive care admission, or experienced other serious health issues.
Statistics indicate that around 10% of pregnant women in the United States smoke. Previous studies have already established a link between smoking during pregnancy and an increased likelihood of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and restricted growth in the womb.
The most recent study, which you can access online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, utilized birth certification data from the U.S. National Vital Statistics System between 2016 and 2019, comprising over 15 million live births. The data included crucial information about smoking habits among women reported at the time of delivery.