Effects of maternal smoking on neonatal morbidity

In this paper a prospective study of the association between maternal smoking and neonatal morbidity variables is presented. Caucasian nulliparous women (n = 115) were studied throughout pregnancy, childbirth and puerperal period. Birthweight(-centiles), Apgar scores, mode of delivery, umbilical arterial and venous blood gas analyses, admission incidence to the neonatal ward and the neurological examination according to Prechtl were considered to be representatives for the starting condition of the newborns. The babies of smokers were statistically significantly at a disadvantage compared to babies of non-smokers for birthweight(-centiles), pH of the umbilical vein (medians: smokers 7.29, non-smokers 7.30) and the score of the neurological examination (medians: smokers 57, non-smokers 58).