Pregnancy and smoking: both parents should quit smoking

While the mother's smoking is often cited, and she is alerted to the dangers of cigarettes, it should be remembered that the consumption of those around her is not without effect. The partner must therefore also adapt his or her practice.

Smoking parents: risks for the fetus

We now know that maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, miscarriage, and low birth weight. But if both parents smoke, this already bleak picture is compounded by the risk of congenital heart disease, which now affects 8 out of 1,000 births. The impacts of passive smoking have been studied by researchers at the Xiangya School of Public Health, who published their findings in theEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology, from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). This is one of the first in-depth studies on the subject.

Consequences from the beginning of pregnancy

According to Dr. Jiabi Qin, "second-hand smoke" from close family members is just as harmful as that of the mother and can lead to major interventions for the baby when it reaches adulthood. Parental smoking is also harmful to the fetus at all stages of pregnancy. Another study, conducted at the University of Eastern Finland, shows that even after stopping smoking, the remaining pregnancy time is not enough to catch up on the growth delays observed.

Quitting smoking before conception

The wisest thing is to start quitting as soon as the desire to become a parent is expressed. Remember that today, 16.7% of pregnant women continue to smoke during their pregnancy in France, which is one of the highest European rates. However, various methods of quitting exist and personalized support is possible. Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about it.

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[i] The influence of smoking on unborn children https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/influence-tabagisme-enfants-naitre/

“Pregnancy: Father’s smoking is just as dangerous for the fetus”, April 2, 2019, https://www.santemagazine.fr/actualites/actualites-sante/grossesse-le-tabagisme-du-pere-est-tout-aussi-dangereux-pour-le-foetus-337812

Rumrich, I., et al. (2020) “Effects of maternal smoking on body size and proportions at birth: a register-based cohort study of 1.4 million births”. BMJ Open. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033465.

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