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Fetal growth and the timing of exposure to maternal smoking
Hiroki Ohmi1, Kenzou Hirooka, Yoshikatsu Mochizuki
1Health and Disease Prevention Division, Department of Health and Welfare, Hokkaido Government, N3-W6, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8588, Japan. hiroki.oomi@pref.hokkaido.jp
Insights
Maternal smoking, especially in the third trimester, increases preterm birth risk and reduces infant body length. Third-trimester smoking also leads to lower birth weight in full-term infants.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatal Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a known risk factor for reduced fetal growth.
- The impact of smoking timing on neonatal outcomes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between the timing of maternal smoking exposure and neonatal outcomes.
- To determine the effects of smoking on birth weight and body length in full-term and preterm neonates.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective questionnaire-based study was conducted.
- Data were collected from 1194 infants during their 3-year-old medical examination.
Main Results:
- Maternal smoking during any trimester significantly increased the risk of preterm birth.
- Third-trimester maternal smoking was associated with shorter body length in neonates.
- Full-term neonates born to mothers who smoked in the third trimester had lower birth weights.
Conclusions:
- Maternal smoking at any stage of pregnancy elevates preterm birth risk.
- Third-trimester smoking adversely affects neonatal body length and birth weight, with a dose-dependent effect observed for birth weight.
Background:
Maternal smoking during the third trimester reduces the birthweight of the full-term neonate. We assessed the relationship between the timing of exposure to maternal smoking, gestational period, weight and body length for both full-term and preterm neonates.
Methods:
A retrospective study with a questionnaire was conducted in 1194 infants who participated in the official medical examination for 3-year-old infants.
Results:
The risk of preterm birth from mothers who smoked during any trimesters was significantly increased. The body length of neonates whose mothers smoked during the third trimester was shorter than that of neonates whose mothers did not smoke during the third trimester. The weight of full-term neonates whose mothers smoked during the third trimester was lighter than that of neonates whose mothers did not smoke during the third trimester.
Conclusions:
Maternal smoking during any trimesters increased the risk of preterm birth. Maternal smoking during the third trimester reduced the body length of both full-term and preterm neonates, and the birthweight of the full-term neonate in a somewhat dose-dependent manner.