EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THE FETAL CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

The best known adverse effect of smoking on the unborn baby is the decrease in birth weight (1,2). Ahlsten et al. (3) who conducted research on this subject, mean birth weight of babies whose mothers smoked. found that the average birth weight of newborn babies whose mothers did not smoke was 400 Gni lower than the average. In addition, it has been reported that there is an increase in ablatio placenta, placenta previa, premature birth, perinatal morbidity and mortality incidence among babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy (1).