Smoking During Pregnancy Changes Baby’s DNA

It is well known that women who are pregnant should not smoke cigarettes and should not expose themselves to second hand smoke. Organizations like the March of Dimes and the American Lung Association urge women to quit smoking before becoming pregnant to reduce the risk of health problems for themselves and their baby. However, according to the March of Dimes website, at least 10 percent of pregnant women in the U.S. continue to smoke during their pregnancy.

The U.S. Public Health Service estimates that if women stopped smoking while pregnant, the number of stillbirths would be reduced by 11 percent and the number of newborn deaths would be reduced by 5 percent. If a woman continues to smoke while pregnant, she increases the risk that her child will develop asthma, cardiovascular disease, lower pulmonary function and other long-term health problems.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California has found that this increased risk of health problems for children exposed to maternal smoking before birth is actually due to a change in DNA patterns.

For the study, researchers led by Carrie Brenton, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the Keck School, looked at data from a survey on maternal smoking, as well as the USC Children’s Health Study. The study observed respiratory health among children in communities of southern California.

Smoking while pregnant does increase a child’s risk of health conditions, however, some conditions may be caused by a mistake by a doctor or hospital. If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, call or e-mail us the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. We will evaluate your Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Queens birth injury, Nassau birth injury or Suffolk birth injury case free of charge.

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