Cigarette smoking before or during pregnancy can affect the likelihood of pregnancy, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and the health of mother and baby. Maternal smoking causes:
- Reduced fertility
- Pregnancy complications, including premature rupture of membranes, placenta previa, placental abruption, ectopic pregnancy, and preterm delivery; evidence also suggests that smoking may cause miscarriage
- Fetal growth restriction and low birth weight
- Congenital malformations like orofacial clefts
- Adverse effects on fetal lung and brain development
- Stillbirth and perinatal mortality
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Maternal exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy causes small reductions in birth weight and research suggests it may cause preterm delivery. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke are at higher risk for SIDS, middle ear disease, lower respiratory illness, and decreased lung function.