Smoking During Pregnancy Linked to Children’s Behavioral Problems

Most pregnant women in the United States know that smoking could be harmful to their baby's health and cause such problems as low birth weight.  However, new studies have revealed potential behavioral problems of a newborn whose mother smoked during pregnancy or was exposed to excessive secondhand smoke. Researchers have linked prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke to significant behavioral problems, mood difficulties, and psychological disorders which can persist into adulthood.  In general, children who had smoking mothers are more irritable and unhappy.  They are more likely to have attention-deficit disorder, have hyperactive behavior, or exhibit a conduct disorder. Such children are at a higher risk for criminal behavior, including violent offenses, and more susceptible to use drugs as an adolescent.  They also are more inclined to smoke cigarettes themselves as teens or adults, further compromising their health.

Nicotine is responsible for most of the negative effects of tobacco throughout pregnancy or during the postnatal period.  However, cigarette smoking is also linked to a deficit in monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) activity, which are enzymes that can compromise the functionality of brain neurotransmission.  This can make children exposed to smoke more vulnerable to neurological disorders and behavioral problems.  Doctors in France looked at blood biomarkers of MAO-A activity in pregnant women who both smoked and did not smoke and analyzed the umbilical cords and blood flow to their infants.  They also observed the newborns reactions and behavior during their first two days of life.  Their findings showed reduced MAO-A activity in both the pregnant mother and her child.   Additionally, newborns of women who smoked exhibited signs of discomfort and irritability than the babies from non-smoking mothers.  This study has prompted doctors to commission further research because of the implied connection between both biology and behavior among smokers and their offspring.

Women who are considering pregnancy should ideally quit smoking prior to conception to bring as little stress as possible on their developing fetus. Ways to quit smoking include support groups and sometimes hypnosis therapy to work on behavioral changes.  Exercise can be an important part of an anti-smoking plan and smoking cessation medication can play a big part in a smoker's success. Medicine to quit smoking such as Zyban®/Wellbutrin SR®
and Nicorette Gum® can help mitigate the physical withdrawal symptoms, while antidepressant medicine can help a smoker maintain a more positive mood while going through the process.The current research shows there are even greater risks to a fetus and a newborn baby when exposed to cigarette smoke than previously known.  Smoking while pregnant can have long-lasting ramifications on a child's mental wellbeing and can negatively effect their entire life. This provides even more compelling reasons for pregnant women to abstain from smoking and to bring their newborns into as healthy a post-natal environment as possible.