Newborns Exposed To Maternal Smoking More Irritable, Difficult To Soothe

An article in ScienceDaily for December 2, 2008 reported on an effect of pregnant women smoking and their offspring.

Previous studies have shown that babies exposed to tobacco in utero are more likely to have a low birth weight and are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome. Now new research by The Miriam Hospital reveals that these babies are also less likely to self-soothe and are more aroused and excitable than newborns whose mothers did not smoke during pregnancy.