Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Dec 17;50(2):200-206.
doi: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0226. Print 2022 Feb 23.

Smoking influence on early and late fetal growth

Beatriz Fernandez-Rodriguez  1 , Ana Roche Gomez  2 , Blanca Sofia Jimenez Moreno  2 , Concepción de Alba  2 , Alberto Galindo  3 , Cecilia Villalain  3 , Carmen Pallás  2 , Ignacio Herraiz  3
Affiliations

Smoking influence on early and late fetal growth

Beatriz Fernandez-Rodriguez et al. J Perinat Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: Smoking during pregnancy is a leading and modifiable risk factor for fetal growth restriction (FGR) and low birthweight (<10th centile). We studied the effects of smoking in the development of early and late FGR or low birthweight, as well as in uteroplacental and fetoplacental hemodynamics of growth-restricted fetuses.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 5,537 consecutive singleton pregnancies delivered at ≤34 + 0 ("early delivery" group, n=95) and >34 + 0 ("late delivery" group, n=5,442) weeks of gestation. Each group was divided into smokers and non-smokers. Prenatal diagnosis of FGR was based on customized fetal growth standards and fetal Doppler, and postnatal birthweight was assessed using the Olsen newborn chart.

Results: There were 15/95 (15.8%) and 602/5,442 (11.1%) smokers in the early and late delivery groups, respectively. In early deliveries, FGR was diagnosed in 3/15 (20%) of smokers and in 20/80 (25%) of non-smokers (p=0.68). We also found no differences in birthweights and hemodynamics. In late deliveres, FGR was detected in 30/602 (5%) smokers and 64/4,840 (1.3%) non-smokers (p<0.001). Birthweights <3rd centile and <10th centile were more common in smokers vs. non-smokers: 38/602 (6.3%) vs. 87/4,840 (1.8%) and 89/602 (14.8%) vs. 288/4,840 (6%), respectively (all p<0.01). Fetal Doppler of late FGR showed slightly higher umbilical artery resistances in smokers.

Conclusions: Smoking in pregnancy is associated with FGR, low birthweight and higher umbilical artery Doppler resistances after 34 weeks of gestation, but we could not confirm this association in earlier deliveries.

Keywords: fetal growth restriction; growth chart; perinatal outcomes; smoking; tobacco.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Blatt, K, Moore, E, Chen, A, Van Hook, J, De Franco, EA. Association of reported trimester-specific smoking cessation and fetal growth restriction. Obstet Gynecol 2015;125:1452–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/aog.0000000000000679.
    1. Reynolds, CM, Egan, B, McKeating, A, Daly, N, Sheehan, SR, Turner, MJ. Five-year trends in maternal smoking behaviour reported at the first prenatal appointment. J Med Sci 2017;186:971–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-017-1575-2.
    1. Figueras, F, Meler, E, Eixarch, E, Francis, A, Coll, O, Gratacos, E, et al.. Association of smoking during pregnancy and fetal growth restriction: subgroups of higher susceptibility. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2008;138:171–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2007.09.005.
    1. Iñiguez, C, Ballester, F, Costa, O, Murcia, M, Souto, A, Santa-Marina, L, et al.. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and fetal biometry. The INMA mother and child cohort study. Am J Epidemiol 2013;178:1067–75. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwt085.
    1. Prabhu, N, Smith, N, Campbell, D, Craig, LC, Seaton, A, Helms, PJ, et al.. First trimester maternal tobacco smoking habits and fetal growth. Thorax 2010;65:235–40. https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.2009.123232.

LinkOut - more resources