SMOKING DURING PREGNANCY AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE FETUS

  1. P. V. Cole Consultant Anaesthetist1,
  2. L. H. Hawkins Lecturer in Human Biology2,
  3. D. Roberts Anaesthetic Research Laboratory3

Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1972.tb12920.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 79, Issue 9, pages 782–787, September 1972

Additional Information

How to Cite

Cole, P. V., Hawkins, L. H. and Roberts, D. (1972), SMOKING DURING PREGNANCY AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE FETUS. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 79: 782–787. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1972.tb12920.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Anaesthetic Research Laboratory, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London E.C.1

  2. 2

    Department of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford

  3. 3

    St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London E.C. 1

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

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Summary

The smoking habits of a group of pregnant women have been recorded and related to the level of carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) in the circulating blood. Simultaneous maternal and fetal COHb levels at delivery were estimated and on average the fetal levels were 1.8 times greater than the related maternal level. Samples of fetal blood were exposed to carbon monoxide in vitro and an appreciable shift to the left of the haemoglobin dissociation curve was demonstrated. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy diminishes the oxygen carrying capacity of both fetal and maternal blood, affects maternal oxygenation by increased pulmonary venous admixture and diminishes the oxygen available to the fetus at the tissue level by its effect on fetal oxyhaemoglobin dissociation.

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