Abstract
BackgroundMaternal smoking during pregnancy is a major cause of intrauterine growth restriction and childhood obesity, but only a few studies have examined the association of smoking cessation before and during pregnancy with fetal and childhood growth. We examined this association in a prospective cohort study in Japan.MethodsOur study included children born between 1991 and 2006 and their mothers. Using a questionnaire, maternal smoking status was recorded at pregnancy. The anthropometric data of the children were collected during a medical check-up at age 3 years. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used for data analysis stratified by sex.ResultsIn total, 2663 mothers reported their smoking status during early pregnancy, and data were collected from 2230 (83.7%) children at age 3 years. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a significant reduction in birth weight (approximately 120–150 g). Body mass index at age 3 years was significantly higher among boys born to smoking mothers than among boys born to nonsmoking mothers. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with overweight at age 3 years among boys (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.03–5.4). However, among women who stopped smoking in early pregnancy, there was no increase in the risks of a small for gestational age birth or childhood overweight at age 3 years.ConclusionsChildren born to mothers who stopped smoking before or during early pregnancy had appropriate fetal and childhood growth.
Highlights
There is evidence to suggest that maternal smoking is harmful for fetal and childhood growth, 13% of women in the United States and 17% of women in Australia smoked during pregnancy.[13,14]
Vardavas et al reported that smoking during pregnancy was associated with a 120 to 150 g reduction in birth weight but found no significant difference in birth weight between infants born to ex-smoking mothers and those born to nonsmoking mothers.[18]
Our results show that birth weight and the proportions of Small for gestational age (SGA) and childhood overweight at age 3 years were similar in nonsmoking mothers and mothers who quit smoking before or during early pregnancy
Summary
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a major cause of low birth weight (LBW) and intrauterine growth restriction.[1,2,3,4] In addition, studies suggest an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood obesity.[5,6] Previously, we described the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and fetal/childhood growth.[7,8,9,10,11,12] there is evidence to suggest that maternal smoking is harmful for fetal and childhood growth, 13% of women in the United States and 17% of women in Australia smoked during pregnancy.[13,14] In Japan, the smoking rate among pregnant women is 5%, and the rate among young pregnant women is higher than in other age groups.[15]. Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a major cause of intrauterine growth restriction and childhood obesity, but only a few studies have examined the association of smoking cessation before and during pregnancy with fetal and childhood growth. We examined this association in a prospective cohort study in Japan. Results: In total, 2663 mothers reported their smoking status during early pregnancy, and data were collected from 2230 (83.7%) children at age 3 years. Conclusions: Children born to mothers who stopped smoking before or during early pregnancy had appropriate fetal and childhood growth
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