Smoking during pregnancy, even just one or two cigarettes a day, can harm the newborn. A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found no safe level of smoking during pregnancy. The research, based on data from over 12 million mother-infant pairs, showed that smoking before or during pregnancy increased the risk of major neonatal health issues, including requiring ventilation, NICU admission, and neurological problems. Even light smoking was associated with a heightened risk, with the newborn’s risk of admission to intensive care increasing by 13% for those who smoked 1-2 cigarettes a day and by 29% for those who smoked 20 or more cigarettes daily.
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