How Does Smoking Cause Birth Defects?
Smoking in pregnancy results in serious risks for both the woman and the fetus. Cigarette smoking by pregnant girls and women has been shown to increase risks of complications in pregnancy and to cause serious adverse fetal outcomes including low birth weight, still births, spontaneous abortions, decreased fetal growth, premature births, placental abruption, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Nicotine increases a baby’s heart rate and breathing movements. Some of the chemicals passed on through the mother’s blood are known to cause cancer. During pregnancy, smokers have a greater risk of miscarriages. During the birth, they are more likely to have complications. The chances of a baby’s dying at birth or shortly thereafter are increased if the mother has smoked during pregnancy.
