Prenatal exposure to nicotine is associated with a high risk for long term cognitive and behavioral challenges in children, as well as a high risk for ADHD.
by Terri Gray
The beginning of your baby's life is so important as it lays significant groundwork for what follows. Not only do genetics and the environment play a significant role in your baby’s beginning, but what your baby is exposed to prenatally is equally significant. It is important that you provide your baby with the best start possible and that includes making sure that you are not smoking while you are pregnant, and that you are not exposed to secondhand smoke.
Studies have shown that maternal smoking, as well as second hand prenatal smoke, can be linked to neurodevelopment disorders such as ADHD, behavioral and cognitive alterations, and neonatal morbidity. (Hernandez-Martinez, et. al., 2016) Nicotine can affect fetal brain development as well as cross the placenta barrier and target brain receptors. This can cause significant issues relating to language development, cognition, and high risk for developing ADHD.
Longitudianl research was done using various scales (Bayley 1993), inventories (MBCDI) and tests (PVT-III), that included the age ranges from 0 to 42 months, in which a variety of developmental markers were assessed in mothers who smoked prenatally. The results showed that maternal smoking, even at minimal levels, or through secondhand smoke, causes health, neurocognitive and behavioral problems in children. (Hernandez-Martinez, et. al., 2016)
Despite these staggering studies, tobacco use remains a public health crisis that has detrimental effects on maternal and child health, as tobacco use continues to be the most widely used toxic substance. The prenatal window is critical for development as harmful substances, such as tobacco, can have lasting effects on a developing baby. (Gonales, et.al., 2023) One of the most concerning aspects of prenatal smoking is ADHD, Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder. ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, that cause serious delays in cognitive function across the span of the child’s life. Studies have indicated that tobacco use during pregnancy crosses the placenta and disrupts neural circuits related to attention and self-regulation, as well as causing stress and inflammation that has been seen to impact brain function. (Gonales, et.al., 2023)
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to examine the association between maternal use of tobacco and the risk of children developing ADHD. (Gonales, et.al., 2023) The conclusion was that there was a significant association between smoking mothers and a high risk for their children developing ADHD. Children diagnosed with ADHD struggle academically and socially and have been seen to have trouble managing their behavior. Children with ADHD can also have issues regulating emotions and this can affect their self-esteem negatively in the long-term.
The collective studies mentioned have also highlighted the importance for smoking cessation programs that aim to support mothers with support and education. Reducing smoking prenatally could reduce the risk of harm to the fetus as well as improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for children. (Gonales, et.al., 2023) Early cessation could also greatly reduce the risk of the child developing ADHD.
Barriers to smoking cessation seem to be present continuously, and are mostly affected by family, according to a systematic review that was conducted, using the Joanna Briggs Institute method in 2017, that evaluates not only barriers to smoking cessation but enablers as well. Most mothers feel like if they give up smoking it will impact their psychological well-being. (Barnett, et.al., 2019) It was also found that relationships with healthcare professionals can weigh heavily upon a mother's ability to feel she can give up smoking. If the physician and staff are judgmental, the mother can find it difficult to stop, as the judgmental behavior of the physician and staff are stressful events, whereas if the physician and staff were understanding and respectful, the mother felt accepted, and the healthcare professional was viewed more positively. Families of the expectant mother were seen as the most profound influence on the mother's ability to stop smoking, as the research showed that if there is a partner in the home that smokes, it will be all the harder for the expectant mother to stop smoking. The most significant positive influence on a mother who is trying to stop smoking is a partner who supports the mother’s quest to be smoke-free, who refuses to smoke in front of the mother, or quits smoking with her. (Barnett, et.al., 2019)
In conclusion, it is best for a growing baby to have all he or she needs for proper development. Prenatal smoking detracts what a baby needs fundamentally both physically and cognitively, and interrupts developmental pathways that affect the child in the long term. Recognizing the harmful effects of prenatal smoking is imperative so that the baby has a strong start. Smoking cessation programs and supportive healthcare staff can be a healthy start in getting the mother and baby in a healthy place. Familial support is paramount during the pregnancy and is seen to have positive influence and outcomes. As the saying goes, it takes a village, but the well-being of the mother and baby are well worth the effort of that village.
References:
Harris, B. M., Harris, M. L., Rae, K., & Chojenta, C. (2019). Barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation within pregnant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women: An integrative review. Midwifery, 73, 49–61. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1016/j.midw.2019.03.003
Mohammadian, M., Khachatryan, L. G., Vadiyan, F. V., Maleki, M., Fatahian, F., & Mohammadian-Hafshejani, A. (2025). The association between maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy and the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 20(2), 1–28. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0317112
Barr, H. M., Streissguth, A. P., Darby, B. L., & Sampson, P. D. (1990). Prenatal exposure to alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and aspirin: Effects on fine and gross motor performance in 4-year-old children. Developmental Psychology, 26(3), 339–348. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1037/0012-1649.26.3.339
Blood-Siegfried J, & Rende EK. (2010). The long-term effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on neurologic development. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 55(2), 143–152. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1016/j.jmwh.2009.05.006
Hernández-Martínez, C., Voltas Moreso, N., Ribot Serra, B., Arija Val, V., Escribano Macías, J., & Canals Sans, J. (2017). Effects of Prenatal Nicotine Exposure on Infant Language Development: A Cohort Follow Up Study. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 21(4), 734–744. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1007/s10995-016-2158-y
Gonzalez, M. R., Uban, K. A., Tapert, S. F., & Sowell, E. R. (2023). Prenatal tobacco exposure associations with physical health and neurodevelopment in the ABCD cohort. Health Psychology, 42(12), 856–867. https://doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1037/hea0001265
Image References:
By Petr Kratochvil (https://publicdomainpictures.net/en/browse-author.php?a=1) - https://publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=15716&picture=expecting-baby, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85465307
By Mark Morgan from Trinidad - No smoking, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67299611
By Identify the image source as Atlantic Training and link that text to http://www.atlantictraining.com on the same page that uses this image., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50867732
No comments:
Post a Comment