Research Shows Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy

Abnormal developments in the facial movements of a fetus might be attributed to smoke exposure during pregnancy, according to researchers from the University of Durham.

A new pilot study released by the U.K. University found that the harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy may be reflected in the facial movements of a fetus.

In order to assess the subtle mouth and touch movements of fetuses, researchers observed 80 4-D ultrasound scans of 20 fetuses. Scans were taken at four different intervals between 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Researchers discovered that fetuses of mothers who smoked showed a significantly higher rate of mouth movements than the normal declining rate of movements expected in a fetus during pregnancy.

Photo credit: Durham University press release.

This higher rate of mouth movements is attributed to the fetal central nervous system, which researchers say controls movements in general and facial movements in particular. According to research, the fetal central nervous system did not develop at the same rate and in the same manner as in fetuses of women who did not smoke during pregnancy.

Four of the fetuses belonged to mothers who smoked an average of 14 cigarettes per day, while the remaining 16 fetuses were being carried by mothers who were non-smokers. All fetuses were clinically assessed and were healthy when born.

The findings of the study suggest that there is a bigger delay in facial touching in fetuses whose mothers smoked, compared to non-smoking mothers.

In addition, the study found that maternal stress had a large impact on the facial movements of a fetus.

“Technology means we can now see what was previously hidden, revealing how smoking affects the development of the fetus in ways we did not realise. This is yet further evidence of the negative effects of smoking in pregnancy,” said Co-Author Professor Brian Francis, of Lancaster University.