Fetal reaction when mother smokes

4D ultrasound pictures provide additional evidence to show the harmful effects of smoking on babies during pregnancy.

Unexpected reaction of the fetus when the mother smokes

Dr. Dr Nadja Reissland, psychologist at Durham University and Lancaster, UK, observes 20 mothers, 4 of whom smoke during pregnancy. After observing the picture of the fetus at weeks 24, 28, 32, 36, she found that the fetuses with mothers who smoke had significantly more self-touches than other babies .

The fetus whose mother smokes (the top row) often touches her hand more often than the unborn mother.(Photo: Durham University)

In the picture, the baby in the top row is touching his face and eyes like he feels uncomfortable about something. The baby's mother smoked during pregnancy. In contrast, the fetal image in the lower row (the baby's mother does not smoke) shows that the baby seems less touching. This is a sign that your baby has been able to master the central nervous system.

According to the team, preliminary research shows that the central nervous system of fetuses with mothers who smoke smokes develops more slowly than other babies . From this result, Reissland is advocating for mothers to quit their smoking habits.