Recently released research results show that women who smoke during pregnancy are much more likely to have babies with a cleft lip or palate.
This study has been found to be unique, as the women did not report their smoking habits, instead their nicotine levels were measured, which is a much more reliable of verifying whether a person has been smoking. Blood was taken from about 500 pregnant women.
Gary. M. Shaw, research director at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California, said, "This research is the first time we've been able to measure something – in this case nicotine – and determine the risk of smoking during pregnancy for oral-facial birth defects."
Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of March of Dimes said, "The message to women is simple and clear. Don't smoke during pregnancy or even if you are considering becoming pregnant."
This is where the doctor is wrong, as the message is not clear, there is a lot of conflicting information surrounding the effects of smoking during pregnancy. If experts had a solid and clear standpoint, women would probably take the message more seriously.
[Via: March of Dimes]
