Smoking delays fetal development: ultrasound images prove it
The study recently published in the scientific journal Acta pediatrica according to which smoking delays fetal development has caused much discussion.
The research, conducted by researchers at Lancaster University, together with colleagues at Durham University, used high-definition 4D ultrasound images to highlight differences in the development of prenatal behavior between fetuses of smoking mothers and those of non-smoking mothers.
The study recruited 20 women, 4 smokers (consuming an average of 14 cigarettes per day) and 16 non-smokers, to observe fetal activity by ultrasound during weeks 24, 28, 32 and 36 of pregnancy. A total of 80 4D scans and a clear difference in behavior was seen between the fetuses of the two groups.
Fetuses of smoking mothers moved their mouths more frequently and touched their faces more frequently than fetuses of non-smoking mothers.
These behaviors are often associated with delays in fetal development.
Usually as the fetus matures, it expresses more complex movements but at the same time also fewer movements. In fact, the frequency of movements should slow down as the fetus grows. However, these images demonstrate that there is a sort of delay in maturation in fetuses of smoking mothers.
The study found that mouth movements decreased by 1.5% per week in fetuses of smoking mothers compared to the normal rate of 3%. At 30 weeks, mouth movements were 58% more frequent if the mothers smoked.
The reason for this developmental delay is uncertain, but it is possible that nicotine could bind to receptors in the brain of fetuses, leading to premature cell death.
Previous studies have shown that depression and stress can have a profound effect on fetal development, and this new study suggests that tobacco use may also affect normal fetal growth and maturation in the womb. Although the sample size is small, the study is still consistent with most of the previous research and allows us to see, thanks to technology, what until now has been hidden from our eyes.
At this point, other research spaces open up to examine, for example, how smoking can interact with stress, depression and other factors during fetal development. One could also go to see how fathers who smoke can impair the development of the fetus.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.