Smoking and marijuana use in pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Neonatal Health
• Child Development

Background:

• Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke is linked to adverse obstetrical, neonatal, and childhood outcomes.
• Cigarette smoking is associated with up to 25% of low birth weight infants and 10% of infant mortality.
• The effects of prenatal marijuana smoking on pregnancy and infant outcomes are less understood, despite marijuana being the most commonly used illicit drug during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the known risks of prenatal smoking, including both tobacco and marijuana.
• To highlight the association between prenatal smoking and adverse infant outcomes such as preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and developmental disorders.
• To emphasize the need for counseling pregnant women on the risks of both cigarette and marijuana smoking.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on prenatal smoking and its effects.
• Analysis of data linking prenatal smoking to infant mortality and low birth weight.
• Examination of evidence regarding developmental and hyperactivity disorders in children exposed to smoke in utero.

Main Results:

• Prenatal cigarette smoking is a significant contributor to low birth weight, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and infant mortality.
• While not teratogenic, both cigarette and marijuana smoke exposure in pregnancy have been linked to developmental and hyperactivity disorders in children.
• The specific risks of prenatal marijuana smoking require further clarification but are a growing concern.

Conclusions:

• Pregnant women should be advised about the established risks of prenatal cigarette smoking and the emerging concerns regarding marijuana use.
• Counseling on smoking cessation, encompassing both tobacco and marijuana, is crucial for improving obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of prenatal marijuana exposure on child development.