Roken tijdens de zwangerschap is schadelijk voor moeder en kind

Smoking is an important adverse foetal exposure with a high prevalence in Western countries. Mothers who smoke during pregnancy have a strongly increased risk of delivering children born preterm or with a low birth weight. Recent studies suggest that foetal smoke exposure also leads to structural and functional developmental adaptations with permanent postnatal consequences. These adaptations may be beneficial in short term, but might lead to cardiovascular and metabolic disease in later life. Future research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms. For now, clinicians should explain to pregnant women that smoking during pregnancy is not only harmful for their own health, but also affects their children’s health many years later.

Conflict of interest: none declared. Financial support: none declared.