Birth defects more common if pregnant mothers smoke

New research has revealed that women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a baby with a birth defect - smoking during pregnancy apparently doubles the risk of the baby having a cleft lip or palate.

According to the researchers this is the first study to measure cotinine and determine the risk of smoking during pregnancy for oral-facial birth defects and it confirms earlier findings.

Dr. Gary M. Shaw, research director and a senior epidemiologist of the March of Dimes California Research Division, says it is particularly unique because it did not rely on women's self-reported smoking habits during pregnancy but used instead the more reliable method of measuring the levels of cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, in the blood from about 500 pregnant women.

Thousands of babies are born every year in the U.S. with an oral-facial cleft which often means difficulty feeding, frequent ear infections, hearing loss, speech difficulties, and dental problems - surgery can often repair these birth defects, which typically occur by the seventh week of pregnancy.

Experts say however that the message to women is simple and clear - 'don't smoke during pregnancy or even if you are considering becoming pregnant'.

Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes says the research supports a petition calling on federal and state officials to include smoking cessation programs as part of maternity care.

Dr. Howse says if mothers can be helped to quit smoking, more babies will be given a healthy start in life.