Smoking During Pregnancy Has Long Term Effects For Children

Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are putting their children at risk and new research has shown that kids born to smoking mothers are more likely to develop behavioural problems.

The findings were published in the study, Growing Up In Ireland, which highlighted the effects of maternal smoking.

However, the research proved that along with premature birth and low birth weights smoking during pregnancy affects children later in life.

Children born to mothers who smoked while pregnant suffer when it comes to academic performance and are at risk of developing attention deficit disorders.

According to The Irish Examiner, Dr Cathal McCroy, an author of the study, said: "It was still really clear that smoking during pregnancy had an effect on a child’s behaviour, and the risk of behavioural problems increased with the number of cigarettes the mother smoked."

The amount of cigarettes smoked also has an effect on children. Children born to mothers who smoked more than 11 cigarettes per day were 78 per cent more likely to develop behavioural disorders compared to 32 per cent of children whose mothers were occasional smokers.

"There are a whole lot of toxic compounds in cigarettes which are believed to have toxic effects on brain development, some of which are evident at a really early age, such as increased irritability, heightened startle and tremors," Dr McCrory said.

The study eliminated the socio-economic situation and mental wellbeing of its participants.