Editorial Note on Nicotine and maternal BMI impact on fetal
birth weight
Research & Reviews: Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences, 7 (2):
2 (Frbruary 2021)Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, smoking is the
most important risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes in
industrialized nations. The association between maternal
smoking and retarded fetal growth was first described in 1957,
and is now a well-known fact. Although smoking is associated
with many health risks for mother and child, several thousands
of pregnant women are known to smoke. A German Perinatal
Quality Survey has shown that the percentage of pregnant
smoking women in Germany is 10.9%. In the European Union, it
has been estimated that 10-27% of the pregnant women
continue smoking during pregnancy. In comparison, in the USA
the average for women who smoke during pregnancy is 7.1%.
Low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) status,
preterm birth, and a low APGAR score are just a few of the
harmful effects of nicotine on pregnancy and the newborn.