Smoking During Pregnancy May Impair Thyroid

Function Of Mom And Fetus

ScienceDaily (Jan. 17, 2009) — Cigarette smoking during
pregnancy is associated with potentially harmful changes in
both maternal and fetal thyroid function, according to a
new study.

"We studied the influence of cigarette smoking on thyroid

function of two groups of women at different stages of
pregnancy – one in the first trimester and the other in the
third trimester," said Dr. Bijay Vaidya, Ph.D., of
Peninsula Medical School at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
in the United Kingdom, and coauthor of the study. "In both
groups we found that smoking during pregnancy is associated
with changes in the mothers' thyroid hormone levels."
Optimal maternal thyroid function during pregnancy is vital
for a successful pregnancy outcome, said Dr. Vaidya. The
adverse outcomes associated with thyroid dysfunction during
pregnancy include increased risk of miscarriage, premature
birth, low birth weight and impaired neuropsychological
development of the baby.
Dr. Vaidya and his colleagues also measured thyroid hormone
levels in the umbilical cord of babies born to smoking
mothers and found that smoking-related changes in thyroid
function extend to the fetus. Dr. Vaidya believes that
impaired thyroid function in the fetus could have
potentially harmful biological consequences.
The study also found that in mothers who stopped smoking
during pregnancy their thyroid hormone levels were
comparable to levels found in non-smokers, which suggests
that changes in thyroid function are rapidly reversible.
There is currently no definitive explanation for how
smoking affects thyroid function, but Dr. Vaidya suggests
that smoking may influence thyroid hormone levels by
affecting the enzyme which converts the active form of
thyroid hormone to an inactive form.
Other researchers working on the study include Beverley
Shields, Anita Hill, Beatrice Knight, and Andrew Hattersley
of Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter, U.K., and
Mary Bilous and Rudy Bilous of James Cook University
Hospital in Middlesbrough, U.K.

Website:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090113090459.h
tm
Summary:
There are two groups of women with different stages of pregnancy both first
and third trimester which will be studied about the influence of cigarette
smoking which affect their health specifically the function of thyroid hormone
as well as to the fetus which outcomes associated with the dysfunction of
thyroid hormones during pregnancy and this may lead to possible risk of
early termination of pregnancy and severe complications. They found out
that smoking may influence thyroid hormone levels by affecting the enzyme
which converts the active form of thyroid hormone to an inactive form.
Reaction:
The unborn child in the womb relies on the mother for its food,
nutrients and oxygen in order to develop and grow healthily before the birth.
The placenta is the tissue that connects the fetus to its mother and from
where it receives all it needs for its correct development whilst it is in the
mother's womb.
On smoking several things happen. Firstly, there is a reduced supply of
oxygen, due to the increase of nicotine and carbon monoxide in the mother's
bloodstream. This means that there is less oxygen available to the baby, as
the harmful substances replace it. The baby will begin to move slower after
the mother has smoked a cigarette and the baby's heart will have to work
faster, as it tries to breathe in more oxygen. Consequently, its breathing and
movement will be altered. In other words it will suffer unnecessary stress.
As well as a reduced amount of oxygen, the nicotine constricts the
blood vessels in the mother's side of the placenta, thus preventing the blood
supply, oxygen and the necessary amount of nutrients and food from
reaching the baby, which will result in the slow growth of the fetus
As a result the fetus will not develop or grow as well as it should and
this can lead to the birth of a low-weight baby and all the risks and
complications that this could entail. A low-weight baby is more likely to be
placed in intensive care once it has been born.
Not only this, once the mother has given birth, she will cut off the
supply of nicotine to her child and shortly the baby will begin to suffer the
effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Recommendation:
Even if the mother does not smoke but the baby is exposed to passive
smoking from the father, the growth and development of the fetus can be
affected.
As a nursing student I encourage the entire mothers who are pregnant
and not pregnant to stopped smoking. Because of the effect that can get
when they smoke. I encourage them to apply the healthy life style such as
eating healthy food like vegetables, fruits and do some exercise regime
under the supervision of experts in Physical Activity and Sports Science in
collaboration with the Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Angeles University Foundation

College OF Nursing
Journal Reading:

Smoking during
Pregnancy May
Impair Thyroid
Function Of Mom
And Fetus
submiited by:
Mallari, Kristoffer Dayle V.
BSN IV-2
Group 8

Submitted to:
Ely P. Favorito, R.N., M.N.
SY: 2010-2011