Reducing cigarette smoking during pregnancy results in improved birth weight of infants, even when moms-to-be quit during the last half of pregnancy, according to a new study in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study found that newborn birth weight is directly related to the number of cigarettes smoked during pregnancy. The study is encouraging, because it suggests that if women are able to significantly reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke in the last half of their pregnancy, this can lead to improvements in birth weight.
BabyFit Tip: If you are a smoker and are having a hard time quitting, don't give up. Even reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke will have a positive impact on your baby. For more information about smoking during pregnancy, read "Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs - The Facts".
