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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 18, 2014 5:58 PM IST
Mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their children at an increased risk of stress at later stage in life due to alteration in gene of a DNA. This has been reported by a recent study. It is due to the changes in DNA of a gene that regulates transmission of stress hormones from mother to child. The study findings reported that newborns find it difficult to cope with stressors as they show low levels of stress hormones and compromised stress response. (Read: Beware Smoking during pregnancy could make your daughter a nicotine addict!)
'Our results suggest that these newborns may not be mounting adequate hormonal response to daily stressors,' said lead researcher Laura Stroud from The Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island. 'Their stress systems may not be prepared for the stressors of daily life,' Stroud added. The study included 100 mother-newborn pairs. Results showed that infants exposed to smoking showed lowered levels of the stress hormone cortisol at baseline and in response to neuro-behavioural exams. (Read: 8 things in the environment that can harm your unborn child)
The lowered cortisol responses were consistent across seven behavioural exams over the first month of life. Stroud also investigated the effects of smoking during pregnancy on DNA in the placenta, the temporary organ joining the mother and foetus during pregnancy. 'Our results suggest that effects of smoking during pregnancy on infant stress response are explained by changes in DNA,' Stroud said. 'These alterations in stress hormones, stress response, and DNA may explain links between moms' smoking during pregnancy and the risk for their children to have behaviour problems and nicotine addiction in later life,' Stroud concluded. The study was published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. (Read: Smoking during pregnancy can put your baby at risk of respiratory and other infections)
Here are five ways smoking during pregnancy can affect your baby s health:
Smoking makes your baby s brain smaller
According to a study, smoking during pregnancy can lead to babies with smaller brains which make them more prone to stress and anxiety. The reason behind it, scientists suspect, is that smoking affects the development of foetus by destroying neurons and reducing oxygen supply to the womb.
Smoking is likely to give your baby meningitis
According to British researchers, smoking during pregnancy trebles the chances of the baby developing meningitis. Meningitis is caused by an infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Smoking leads to low weight babies
According to the findings of a research conducted in Spain, it was found that women who smoked during pregnancy gave birth to lighter babies. A research was conducted on 1,216 newly born babies and it was seen that such babies were lighter by 216 grams on an average. For those who don t know, babies born with low birth weight are likely to suffer from malnutrition, developmental disorders, learning disabilities, heart-related issues and a host of other conditions. Read about other ways smoking during pregnancy can affect your baby s health
With inputs from: IANS
Image Source: Getty Images
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