Another Study On The Risks Of Smoking During Pregnancy Shows That Smoking Markedly Increases The Risk Of Certain Birth Defects. Read More Reasons Why You Shouldn't Smoke During Pregnancy.
Another study on the risks of smoking during pregnancy shows that it markedly increases the risk of certain birth defects. Read more reasons why you shouldn't smoke during pregnancy.
Smoking linked to birth defects -- again
I can't count the number of studies I've come across that link birth defects and baby's future health issues to a mom's smoking during pregnancy. And like I say every time, it floors me that anyone would still smoke when they're pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. Still, women smoke during pregnancy, so it's important to read about each study that links smoking to birth defects and other health issues. In the most recent study published in Human Reproduction Update, researchers went through 50 years of research on smoking and birth defects. From all of the studies, they selected 172. The researchers then went through those studies to determine the birth defect rate. They concluded that pregnant women who smoked had a 20% to 30% greater chance of having a baby with any of the following birth defects:
- Cleft lips and palates
- Shortened or missing legs and arms
- Abnormally shaped heads or faces
- 27% increased risk of gastrointestinal abnormalities: issues with colon, intestine, bile ducts, liver, gall bladder, esophagus and throat
- 50% greater chance of being born "with their intestines hanging outside their body"
- 20% greater chance of being born with a closed or blocked anus
- 9% greater chance of having a heart defect
- 13% greater chance of boys having undescended testicles
