http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/pregnancy.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653512000604 http://tobacco.org/news/333626.html Highlights ► Female cadmium and male lead blood concentrations associated with a longer time-to-pregnancy. ► Male blood lead effect remained in the context of female exposures. ► Environmentally-relevant concentrations of metals adversely affect couple fecundity. Science Direct louisg@mail.nih.gov Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2012/02/08/Smoking-lead-linked-to-pregnancy-delay/UPI-39651328760328/ http://tobacco.org/news/333625.html Higher blood levels of cadmium in females, and higher blood levels of lead in males, delayed pregnancy in those trying to have a baby, U.S. researchers said. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues said smokers are estimated to have twice the levels of cadmium as do non-smokers, but exposure also occurs in workplaces where cadmium-containing products are made and from industrial emissions. Common sources of lead exposure include lead-based paint in older homes, lead-glazed pottery, contaminated soil and contaminated drinking water. . . . The study was published online in Chemosphere. UPI Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-childhood-leukaemia-fathers.html http://tobacco.org/news/333531.html Research from Western Australia's Telethon Institute for Child Health Research finds that heavy smoking by fathers around the time of conception greatly increases the risk of the child developing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer. Published in the prestigious American Journal of Epidemiology, the study investigated the association between parental smoking and the occurrence of ALL in offspring. "The first step towards the development of leukemia is thought to occur in utero in a lot of cases," lead author Dr Elizabeth Milne says. "So we look at prenatal exposures as it has to be something to do with what's happening before the baby's born." "Tobacco is a known carcinogen and, in terms of childhood leukemia, there's a plausible biological pathway whereby paternal smoking could actually contribute to disease risk in the offspring," she says. In a comprehensive exposure questionnaire distributed nationwide to 388 families with cases of ALL and 868 control families, the group asked mothers and fathers to state where they lived, their occupation and how many cigarettes they smoked for every year of their life from the time they were 15. Medical Xpress Australia Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-16947464 http://tobacco.org/news/333508.html A senior midwife has advised staff at Belfast's Royal-Jubilee Maternity Hospital that if they intend to smoke, they should not do so in public. In an email leaked to the BBC, staff were told that a member of the public had lodged a complaint. It was over the sight of a member of hospital staff in theatre scrubs and hat smoking outside the maternity hospital. The complaint was made at the height of the pseudomonas health care crisis. The woman who complained said she had seen a member of staff smoking outside the maternity department. BBC Online UK Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://ekasearch01.eurekalert.org/e3/cs.html?url=http%3A//www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/bmj-omw012712.php&charset=iso-8859-1&qt=%2Bsmoking%2C+EurekAlert&col=ev3rel&n=3&la=en http://tobacco.org/news/333396.html Mums-to-be who are both overweight and smoke during their pregnancy risk damaging their baby's developing heart, finds research published online in Heart. Congenital heart abnormalities are some of the most common defects found at birth, with around eight in every 1000 babies affected. A likely cause is only found in 15% of cases. The authors base their findings on an analysis of almost 800 babies and foetuses who were born with congenital heart abnormalities, but no other defects, between 1997 and 2008. These babies were compared with 322 children and foetuses who were born with chromosomal abnormalities, but without any heart defects. EurekAlert edickinson@bmjgroup.com Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/102/abstract http://tobacco.org/news/333360.html Background Smoking during pregnancy is associated with known adverse perinatal and obstetrical outcomes as well as with socio-economic, demographic and other behavioural risk factors that independently influence outcomes. Using a large population-based perinatal registry, we assess the quantity of cigarettes smoked for the magnitude of adverse birth outcomes and also the association of other socio-economic and behavioural risk factors documented within the registry that influence pregnancy outcomes. Our goal was to determine whether number of cigarettes smoked could identify those in greatest need for comprehensive intervention programs to improve outcomes. . . . Results There were 233,891 singleton births with available smoking status data. A significant dose-dependent increase in risk was observed for the adverse birth outcomes small-for-gestational age, term low birth weight and intra-uterine growth restriction. Results from the pp-odds model indicate heavy smokers were more likely to have not graduated high school: AOR (95% CI) = 3.80 (3.41-4.25); be a single parent: 2.27 (2.14-2.42); have indication of drug or alcohol use: 7.65 (6.99-8.39) and 2.20 (1.88-2.59) respectively, attend fewer than 4 prenatal care visits: 1.39 (1.23-1.58), and be multiparous: 1.59 (1.51-1.68) compared to light, moderate and non-smokers combined. Conclusion Our data suggests that self reports of heavy smoking early in pregnancy could be used as a marker for lifestyle risk factors that in combination with smoking influence birth outcomes. This information may be used for planning targeted intervention programs for not only smoking cessation, but potentially other support services such as nutrition and healthy pregnancy education. BioMed Central Canada Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://7thspace.com/headlines/405136/heavy_smoking_during_pregnancy_as_a_marker_for_other_risk_factors_of_adverse_birth_outcomes_a_population_based_study_in_british_columbia_canada.html http://tobacco.org/news/333359.html Conclusion: Our data suggests that self reports of heavy smoking early in pregnancy could be used as a marker for lifestyle risk factors that in combination with smoking influence birth outcomes. . . . Author: Anders C EricksonLaura T Arbour Credits/Source: BMC Public Health 2012, 12:102 7thSpace Interactive Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=660767 http://tobacco.org/news/333358.html Children born to women who smoke during pregnancy are not at increased risk for autism, according to a new study. Smoking during pregnancy has been considered a possible cause of autism in children due to known links between smoking and behavioral disorders and obstetric complications, but previous studies of a connection between smoking during pregnancy and autism have had mixed results. In this study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 4,000 Swedish children with autism and a control group of 39,000 children without autism. The results showed that 19.8 percent of the children in the autism group and 18.4 percent of those in the control group had mothers who smoked during pregnancy. The study was published online in December in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and will appear in a upcoming print issue. HealthDay [HealthScout] Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://trib.com/opinion/letters/smokefree-laws-protect-youth/article_162eb770-8db1-5898-bc75-7ff9ac34769e.html http://tobacco.org/news/333232.html My grandfather died when I was 11 due to smoking-related lung cancer. I was devastated. Yet, just a little more than a year later, my desire to be accepted by my teenage peer group led me to begin my relationship with cigarettes. Over time I became addicted to nicotine and smoking three packs a day. I became pregnant when I was 23 and my OBGYN advised me not to quit "cold turkey," as I would put the baby in shock, so I began a slow cessation. But because of my addiction, I couldn't entirely quit which I justified, rationalized, and threw in the face of people who gave me looks of sadness or disappointment. As soon as I gave birth, I was quickly back to two or more packs a day. . . . Knowing that the majority of tobacco users smoke their first cigarette before the age of 18 and that Wyoming has one of the highest rate of youth smoking in the nation at 22 percent; I feel we owe it to the next generation to protect their health. . . . To me, this is not an issue of business owner or patron's rights, it is a matter of protecting our most valuable resource; the next generation, from the pitfalls of tobacco. I support Smokefree Natrona County's efforts to protect the health of our community, me, and most importantly, my daughter. Casper Star-Tribune Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=661228 http://tobacco.org/news/333130.html Women who are both overweight and smoke during pregnancy could damage their baby's developing heart, a new study warns. Researchers in the Netherlands looked at nearly 800 fetuses and babies with congenital heart defects, but no other birth defects, between 1997 and 2008. Congenital means present at birth. This group was compared with more than 300 fetuses and babies born with chromosomal abnormalities, but without any heart defects. The results showed that women who were both overweight (body mass index of 25 or more) and smoked during pregnancy were 2.5 times more likely to have a baby with a congenital heart defect than women who either smoked or were overweight during pregnancy. . . . The study was published online Jan. 31 in the journal Heart. HealthDay [HealthScout] Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2012/01/16/heartjnl-2011-300822.short?g=w_heart_ahead_tab http://tobacco.org/news/332923.html Conclusions Maternal overweight and smoking may have a synergistic adverse effect on the development of the fetal heart. Overweight women who wish to become pregnant should be strongly encouraged to stop smoking and to lose weight. Heart Netherlands Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gE_DwnGLgXxOheHAwF40F0iTcJng?docId=N0220111327935040767A http://tobacco.org/news/332922.html Unborn babies' hearts can be damaged if their mothers are overweight and smoke, a study has shown. Scientists studied data on 797 live and stillborn babies and aborted foetuses with congenital heart problems. They were compared with 322 babies and foetuses having chromosomal abnormalities but no heart defects. Birth abnormalities affecting the heart were much more common among children, and foetuses, whose mothers both smoked and were overweight. Women with both risk factors were more than twice as likely to give birth to a baby with a congenital heart defect as those with just one. The Press Association Ethiopia Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/290084/20120131/pregnant-women-obese-smoke-congenital-heart-defect.htm http://tobacco.org/news/332921.html Pregnant women who are both overweight and smoke are putting their babies' hearts at risk, according to a study published online in the journal Heart. Researchers from the University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands, studied the impact smoking by obese pregnant mothers has on the heart of the unborn baby. They found that the risk for congenital heart defects in babies increased with around eight in every 1,000 babies affected when their obese moms smoked during pregnancy. IBTimes Netherlands Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wsaw.com/news/headlines/Many_Women_Smoke_During_Pregnancy_in_Marathon_County_137827068.html?ref=068 http://tobacco.org/news/332559.html Experts in Marathon County are sharing some shocking news about the number of women using tobacco during pregnancy. The data, from the Marathon County Life Report, says almost a fifth of women who give birth in the county use tobacco. "The state rate for pregnant women who smoke is quite high, but in Marathon County we even have a higer rate than the state," says Public Health Educator, Renee Trowbridge. "But yeah when you see a pregnant woman smoking that just goes to show how strong the addiction is." WSAW CBS 7 leah.kraus@wsaw.com (Reporter: Leah Kraus) Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/550098/Pregnancy--Please-don-t-smoke.html?nav=5015 http://tobacco.org/news/332419.html There are a number of benefits to quitting smoking, primarily for babies. Unborn babies get more oxygen, even after just one day of Mama not smoking. They have a better chance of attaining full term birth and getting to go home from the hospital with Mama. And when Mama stops smoking, she is less likely to develop heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic lung disease, or other smoke-related diseases. She's more likely to live a long life and know her grandchildren, has more energy and can breathe easier, and can feel great about doing something good for herself and her baby. Secondhand smoke affects pregnant women and their babies as well. Pregnant women who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to have a lower birth-weight baby. Babies who are around cigarette smoke are more likely to have ear infections and more frequent asthma attacks. They are also at greater risk of death from SIDS. It's not easy to stop smoking. But it's worth the effort and the rewards are worthy. Salem News info@familyrecovery.org (CATHY BROWNFIELD - Family Recovery Center) Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT