Source: BBC Health; Karolinska Institute (Sweeden)
Admittedly it was a small, focused study of 36 newborns, 17 of whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. It is, however, alarming and instructive. Babies that had been exposed to cigarette smoke in utero (While in Mommy’s belly) demonstrated abnormal heart rates and blood pressures.
But that’s not all. . .rather than dissipate with age, the abnormalities appear to have worsened from one week to age one. According to lead researcher, Dr. Gary Cohen, “Babies of smokers have evidence of persistent problems in blood pressure regulation that start at birth and get worse over time” and “[E]arly life exposure to tobacco can lead to long lasting reprogramming of the infant blood pressure control mechanism.”
And Dr. Cohen adds, this might be the mechanism which explains why infants of smokers are at increased risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) or “Cot death” as it is known in the UK.
~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire
Become a Fan of the Lewis Law Firm on Facebook
It’s commonly known that smoking is PREHIBITED for pregnant women. But I’ve also heard that those who smoke and find out that they are pregnant, better don’t quit immediately, cause all those poisons will go to baby.