Smoking During Pregnancy Doubles the Risk of SUID, According to Study

We know smoking during pregnancy is dangerous, but new research highlights just how harmful this habit is for baby. Put simply, it can be a matter of life or death.

Any amount of smoking while pregnant, even just one cigarette a day, doubles the risk of an infant dying from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), according to a new study published in Pediatrics. For women who smoked anywhere from one to 20 cigarettes a day, the odds of SUID increased by .07 with each additional cigarette smoked.

The researchers believe if no women smoked during pregnancy, it could prevent about 800 of the approximately 3,700 deaths from SUID every year in the US.

The study’s authors analyzed maternal cigarette smoking habits in the US for live births that took place from 2007 to 2011. Of the 20 million births, more than 19,000 deaths were due to SUID, with the specific cause of death being due to SIDS.

Researchers also looked at how smoking before pregnancy and weaning off during pregnancy affects the risk of SUID. Mothers who smoked three months before pregnancy and quit in the first trimester still had a higher risk of SUID compared to non-smokers. Women who reduced their cigarette intake by the third trimester saw a 12 percent decrease in the risk compared to more than half of pregnant smokers who did not reduce how much they smoked during pregnancy. Plus, women who went cold turkey were associated with a 23 percent decreased risk.

“The most important takeaway is for women to understand that quitting smoking before and during pregnancy by far results in the greatest reduction in SUID risk,” lead study author Tatiana Anderson says. “For pregnant women unable to quit entirely, every cigarette they can eliminate will reduce the odds of their child dying suddenly and unexpectedly from SUID.”

With that in mind, quitting smoking cold turkey can be difficult for some women. While kicking the habit is definitely the best thing you can do for you and baby, some evidence suggests people who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day are at a small risk of having seizures if they stop altogether. Be sure to speak to your doctor to find out the best plan of action to protect yourself and your baby-to-be.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.