Maternal Smoking and its Effect

Maternal smoking seems to play a very important role during pregnancy. Studies have clearly demonstrated that mothers who smoke during their pregnancy are at a risk for developing babies who are of low birth weight, very low birth weight, born before their actual data of delivery or develop IUGR. In this paper, we would be taking a look at four different studies including Nakhaee et al (2008) on a Southern Iranian population, Reifsnider, et al (2008) on a Texas population, Vega et al (1993) on a Chilean population and the Ohio Department of Health Study 1989.

All these studies have clearly demonstrated that low birth weight is mainly attributed due to maternal smoking during the pregnancy period. The Ohio Study was conducted during the period of January to June 1989 on Black and White mothers. The low birth weight infant included those below 2500 grams and very low birth weight infants included those below 1500 grams. Preterm delivery infants where those who were born before 37 weeks of delivery. Several factors were attributed to cause these problems including maternal drug abuse, alcohol abuse, smoking, age, birth order, previous MTP’s, weight of the mother, etc.

The study clearly demonstrated that smoking resulted in low and very low birth weight and preterm delivery, than those women who did not smoke. About 23 % of the women smoked during their pregnancy and White women were twice more likely than Black women to smoke during pregnancy (8. 8 % to 4. 7 %). 4. 8 % of the White babies were underweight whereas12 % of the Black babies were underweight. Besides, the incidence of very low birth weight was higher in Black compared to Whites. As the extent of smoking increased, the severity of low birth weight also increased (Ohio Department of Health, 1990).

A study was conducted in southern Iran to determine the effect of water pipe smoking on the newborn birth weight. During the period of 2004, certain women’s health records were inspected and subsequently the women were interviewed for the period within 10 days after delivery. Certain criteria such as smoking during pregnancy, diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, etc, observed. More than 8 % of all women were smokers in general. The incidences and severity of low birth weight was more when the mother smoked during the first trimester compared to the second and the third trimester (Nakhaee, 2008).

Another study regarding the risks for low birth weight was performed in Texas women by Tierney-Gumaer et al (2008). The risks factors for low birth weight was determined in this study. Several hospitals in Bexar County Texas were involved in …

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