Why Smoking Increases SIDS Risk
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 14:40
Smoking during pregnancy is known to increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). When a baby is born, certain chemicals called catecholamines are released from the adrenal glands, signaling the baby to take its first breath and transition to life outside the womb. In adults, the adrenal gland is controlled by the brain, but in newborn babies, catecholamine release is stimulated by low oxygen levels, like those that occur during delivery. This reliance on oxygen sensing for catecholamine release continues for a few months after birth.
Researchers from McMasters University have found that this If a baby is lying face down, and it’s oxygen level drops, the baby should respond by moving its head. Without this oxygen sensing mechanism, the baby doesn’t rouse and change its position. This makes the baby much more susceptible to SIDS.
Researchers found that even light or moderate amounts of nicotine were enough to damage the oxygen sensing system, meaning that cutting back on smoking without actually quitting, or being exposed to second-hand smoke is also unsafe.
I know that quitting smoking is hard, so if you’re a smoker, does this study change what you’ll do in future pregnancies?
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Piper says:
January 31st, 2008 at 4:49 am
I Stumbled this article. There are far too many women out there who seem to think that it’s okay to smoke during their pregnancies as long as they don’t drink. It’s terribly sad and disgusting to think that those women are going to be parents.
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