Monday, March 17, 2008 8:17 AM
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR Kicking the habit during pregnancy may make for a happier baby According to a recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiological and Community Health, a benefit of quitting smoking during pregnancy is the increased possibility of a cheerful and easy-going baby. Conversely, children whose mothers
smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have poor adaptability and mood, which, according to Kate Pickett, Ph.D., of the
University of York, are precursors of antisocial behavior. According to the researchers, quitting smoking during pregnancy generally reflects the mother's personality and her desire to protect her child. However, there has been a great deal of
debate as to whether or not babies with more pleasant dispositions can be attributed to maternal characteristics or teratological effects. The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that reviews the study:
To test the competing hypotheses, the researchers undertook a study of more than 18,000 British babies born from 2000 through 2002, who were participants in the Millennium Cohort Study.
Their mothers were classified as either non-smokers during pregnancy, quitters, light smokers, or those who smoked 10 or more cigarettes a day (heavy smokers).
The infants' temperaments were assessed when they were nine months old, using the validated Carey Infant Temperament Scale. The test was designed to pick up positive mood, receptivity to new things, and regular sleep and eating patterns (regularity).
More than a third (35.7%) of the mothers reported smoking at some time during pregnancy, although almost half of these quit smoking. Only a small proportion of the sample (9.5%) smoked heavily throughout pregnancy.
Women who smoked through pregnancy had significantly smaller infants and shorter gestations. The women who quit smoking had infants with birth weights and gestations comparable to non-smokers.
Click here to read the rest of this article from Medpage Today
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Rolf B. Gainer, Ph.D., Diplomate ABDA, is the Chief Executive Office at Brookhaven Hospital and the Vice President of Rehabilitation Institutes of America. Dr. Gainer has been involved in the design and operation of treatment programs since 1977.
Stephen Harnish, MD is the Medical Director of Brookhaven Hospital. Dr. Harnish is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and is well known in Oklahoma for his informative radio and television appearances.
Aric Thorpe, MHR, is Brookhaven Hospital's Pastoral Liaison Representative. He conducts the quarterly Minister's Lifeline series and provides mental health information to pastors and clergy.
Sarah McGee, BA, serves as the Community Education Provider for Brookhaven Hospital. She provides information on mental health and drug and alcohol treatment to healthcare professionals in Oklahoma and surrounding states. |
