Posted on 01/09/2006 8:19:48 AM PST by billorites
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Women have yet another reason to stop smoking while pregnant. In the largest study of its kind, plastic surgeons found smoking during pregnancy significantly elevates the risk of having a child with excess, webbed or missing fingers and toes, according to the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In fact, the study found that smoking just half a pack per day increases the risk of having a child born with a toe or finger defect by 29 percent. “Reconstructive surgery to repair limb, toe and finger abnormalities in children represents a large portion of my practice – it is the most common issue I treat,” said Benjamin Chang, MD, ASPS member and study author. “Parents would ask why this happened to their child, but I didn’t have an answer. This study shows that even minimal smoking during pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of having a child with various toe and finger defects.”
Researchers examined the records of more than 6.8 million live births in the United States during 2001 and 2002, finding 5,171 children born with a digital anomaly where the mother smoked during pregnancy but did not suffer from other medical complications, such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure.
The study authors discovered pregnant women who smoked one to 10 cigarettes per day increased the risk of having a child with a toe or finger deformity by 29 percent. The more a woman smoked, the higher the risk became. Women who smoked 11 to 20 cigarettes a day raised the risk 38 percent, and women who smoked 21 or more cigarettes per day raised the risk 78 percent.
Known as polydactyly, syndactyly and adactyly, these deformities are the most common congenital limb abnormalities. Polydactyly is the presence of more than five digits on the hands or feet. Syndactyly is having fused or webbed fingers or toes. Adactyly is the absence of fingers or toes.
Webbed fingers or toes occur one in every 2,000 to 2,500 live births and excess fingers or toes occur one in every 600 live births. Webbed fingers or toes occur twice as often in boys and are more common in Caucasians than African Americans. Excess digits, however, are 10 times more common in African Americans and are only slightly prevalent in boys. Nevertheless, the majority of these defects occur without any family history and most causes are unknown which has lead researchers to investigate environmental causes, such as smoking, for these anomalies.
“The results of this study were interesting. We suspected that smoking was a cause of digital anomalies but didn’t expect the results to be so dramatic,” said Dr. Chang. “Smoking is so addictive that pregnant women often can’t stop the habit, no matter what the consequences. Our hope is this study will show expectant mothers another danger of lighting up.”
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
If this were the 'actual' case here. . .then most of America's baby boomers would have finger and toe deformities. . .
Now; feet not always pretty. . .but you are right and the truth is; this is not about 'babies or their fingers and toes. . .for sure.
One thing is for sure, abortion is a LOT more dangerous to the fetus than the mother smoking.... and you don't need any statistical analysis to make that finding!!!!
Sometimes the addicted are right. I'm not saying that is the case here, but the anti-smoking lobby plays fast and loose with it's agenda. In my town here, the parish passed a no smoking ordinance in the past year that governs public conveyances with very few exceptions. Part of the anti's (well funded) media blitz leading up to the vote was a radio spot that emphasized the fact that last year (2004) "753 Louisians died from the second-hand effects of smoking." I was thinking, that's a pretty damn specific number; because of my work, I'm pretty familiar with the provisions of HIPAA, and I figured if they had such a specific number, maybe they could produce a list of names...To make a long story short, I started pushing and found out that the fatalities from the, "second hand effects of smoking," included people who died in fires where a cigarette was determined or suspected to be the cause...
I'm a smoker. I know it's unhealthy, and I would never advocate or encourage anyone to start. Having said that, I'm not mentally deficient or predisposed to lying, particularly to "spread," my habit.
What the hell do THEY know about pregnancy???
In my experience the one child I know who was born with finger abnormalities was the child of 2 non-smokers so can I take it that not smoking may cause defects?
I agree but we all know that when an anti-smoking statement is made it is taken for fact.
Thats why I offered up what is called an out, as we may notice in the post its says in my case, which aleviates any possible attacks on said post as being anecdotal or without scientific merit.
They are already using this in custody issues. Pretty soon, you'll have to go to the neighborhood dealer to get a nickle bag of tobacco along with your B.C. Bud.
I smoked when pregnant, and all 4 of my children are higher than average in intelligence.
Maybe nicotine helps brain development.
Their fingers, toes, and other appendages are normal . And they were much healthier than their peers, in spite of all the second hand smoke they inhaled. And, get this, none of them are smokers today! Neither am I since New Year's.
I quit cold-turkey after 40 odd years of smoking, not because of health, but because of cost and social pressure. So far, doing fine.
So has anyone examined Lucy Arnez and Desi Arnez Jr?
Show me the data.
29%; 38%, even 78% are not statistically significant numbers.
More fear mongering by the jump on the bandwagon crowd.
My mom smoked all through her pregnancy with me, and probably through most of the labor. My fingers and toes are ok, but I am pretty ugly, and until I left home for college in 1976, I smelled like smoke.
I question the science behind this, but even if it were solidly shown that smoking causes birth defects, this thread would not look much different than it does now and will as the posts mount. Smoking never appealed to me, but those of you who like it must REALLY enjoy it. Light up and lighten up.
(And that newspaper photo out of Roanoke, Va is hilarious). I immediately printed it.
I had two cousins with webbed toes. My aunt smoked like a freight train. I also remember a girl in my typing class in high school who was missing a pinkie. I asked her about it once and she said she was born without a pinkie. I don't know if her mother smoked, though.
I smoked and my adult children's toes are fine. I would not smoke again. I quit back in 1987 and am glad I did.
I also question the science, but disagree if it were solidly shown to be true things would not be different on this thread.
But the point is there is nothing solid shown here. even a 78% "increase in risk" is so far from being statistically significant that it means nothing. If they were saying an increased risk of over 200%, we would be talking something entirely different.
My doctor told me that the stress from trying to quit would be more detrimental than the actual smoking. My gal turned out just fine.
This stuff makes me puke!
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