Pregnancy complications and birth defects

01/31/2007 -


Women who smoke tobacco may reduce their chances of becoming pregnant and the possible benefit of fertility treatment. Miscarriages are more frequent in women who smoke.

Babies born to mothers who smoke have a higher risk of having some kinds of birth defects, particularly cleft lip and cleft palate (abnormalities of the mouth that need to be corrected by surgery). Some other types of birth defects have been linked to the mother's smoking, that may be increased when the mother smokes include: clubfoot, limb defects, some types of heart defects, gastroschisis (an opening in the muscles of the abdomen that allows the intestines to appear outside the body), and imperforate anus (there is no opening from the intestines to the outside of the body to allow stool or gas to be passed).

A woman who smokes while she is pregnant has a greater chance of having a premature (early) birth, a small baby, or a stillborn baby. If the mother smokes while pregnant, there is also an increased risk of the baby dying during the first year of life. Talk with your health care provider about ways to help you quit smoking if you are pregnant or can get pregnant.

Smoking may lower the oxygen available to the baby, which can cause the baby to grow more slowly and gain less weight in the womb.