Smoking as few as 1-2 cigarettes per day before or during pregnancy is associated with a significantly higher risk of serious health problems in newborns. A recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health reveals this. This research adds to the growing body of evidence that smoking, even at low levels, poses substantial risks to neonatal health.
KEY FINDINGS
- Increased Risks: Smoking at any time before or during pregnancy was associated with a significantly higher risk of major neonatal health issues. These issues included the need for assisted ventilation, NICU admission, surfactant replacement therapy, suspected sepsis, and serious neurological problems.
- Light Smoking: Even light smoking (1-2 cigarettes per day) before pregnancy increased the risk of major neonatal health issues by 16%. This risk escalated to 31% for those smoking 20 or more cigarettes daily.
- NICU Admissions: The likelihood of NICU admission was 13% higher for newborns of mothers who smoked 1-2 cigarettes daily, increasing to 29% for those smoking 20 or more cigarettes daily.
SMOKING AND NEONATAL HEALTH: A PERSISTENT RISK
Despite advancements in maternity care leading to a decline in newborn mortality and health issues, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions remain common. These admissions, often due to serious conditions, can lead to long-term neurodevelopmental deficits that may persist into adulthood. In the United States, approximately 10% of pregnant women smoke, a behaviour well-known to increase the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and restricted foetal growth.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT LIGHT SMOKING
While the dangers of heavy smoking during pregnancy are well-documented, misconceptions persist about the safety of light smoking or smoking only during certain trimesters. Many women believe that smoking before conception or during the first trimester does not significantly harm the foetus. This study challenges these beliefs, showing that even minimal exposure to tobacco can have serious consequences for newborns.
STUDY OVERVIEW AND METHODOLOGY
Researchers analyzed data from the US National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) between 2016 and 2019, encompassing 15,379,982 registered live births. After excluding multiple births and other confounding factors, the study focused on 12,150,535 mother-infant pairs. Smoking intensity was categorized into six groups: 0, 1–2, 3–5, 6–9, 10–19, and 20 or more cigarettes per day.
NO SAFE LEVEL OF SMOKING
The study’s findings underscore the critical message that there is no safe period or safe level of smoking shortly before or during pregnancy. Even minimal exposure to tobacco smoke can significantly impact neonatal health, leading to severe and sometimes long-lasting health issues for the child.
RE-EMPHASIZING SMOKING CESSATION
The research highlights the urgent need to prevent smoking initiation among non-smokers and to promote smoking cessation for those who smoke, especially among women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Public health initiatives should focus on dispelling myths about light smoking and emphasize the risks associated with any level of tobacco exposure during pregnancy.
This study adds to the growing evidence that smoking, even at low levels, poses serious risks to newborn health. As such, it reinforces the importance of comprehensive smoking cessation programs for women before and during pregnancy to protect the health of their newborns.
