Babies in the womb can be harmed by tobacco smoke because it reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that pass through the placenta.

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It increases the risk of:

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• Miscarriage

• Stillbirth (baby dying in the womb or shortly after birth)

• Baby’s abnormalities: face defects (i.e. cleft lip and palate)

• Reduced baby’s growth (Intra Uterine growth restriction)

 

Babies and children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are also at greater risk of:

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• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which can also happen to infants over 12 months: the risk is greater if parents continue to smoke the baby is born

• Asthma, chest and ear infections, and pneumonia

• Behavior problems such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) performing poorly at school.

 

Stopping smoking reduces all the risks described above.

 

There is no safe level of smoking, either for the mum or the baby. The earlier smoking is stopped, the greater the benefit. It is important to know that stopping at any time during pregnancy is beneficial to some extent. Also, passive smoking (being exposed to other people smoking) increases the risk o pregnancy complications.

Moreover, breast milk quality and the amount are reduced in smoking mothers.

 

To conclude, smoking reduces female fertility and affects the man’s sperm count. Stopping smoking improves sperm count and quality.

 

 

 

Sources and acknowledgments

 

NICE 2010 Public Health Guidance Smoking: Stopping in Pregnancy and after Childbirth

 

NICE 2008 Clinical Guideline Antenatal Care for Uncomplicated Pregnancies

 

Smoking and pregnancy. December 2015. RCOG patient information leaflets

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