Fetal Development Craniosynostosis: Caused by Tobacco Use During Pregnancy

Smoking is linked to many health complications. While women are strongly encouraged to avoid smoking, many continue to use tobacco products while pregnant. Among the many health risks in pregnancy, premature birth and low birth weight are commonly linked to the risks of smoking during pregnancy.

In addition to these pregnancy risks, the developing fetus may also be at-risk for a condition known as craniosynostosis. Affecting approximately three out of every 10,000 live births, the development of craniosynostosis has been found to have some connection to the use of tobacco products, and smoking, during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant, and are considering the risks associated with your tobacco use, you may want to become familiar with the condition of craniosynostosis. While there are many other risk factors associated with this condition, smoking has been linked as well. Craniosynostosis is a condition by which a fetus experiences premature fusion of the cranial sutures. Because cranial, or head, development involves many suture fusions, the development of craniosynostosis may involve one suture, or many sutures.

With the development of premature cranial suture fusions, your child is at-risk for birth of this condition which is manifested by abnormal head development. As a result, the facial features are also improperly developed and neurological complications are quite common.

The peak time for risk of craniosynostosis in the developing fetus seems to involve the period of development after the first trimester. In addition, women who smoke more than 15 cigarettes per day are placing their infant at significant risk for developing this congenital defect. In addition, if you smoke heavily before pregnancy, your infant may be at risk for developing this cranial abnormality.

Some obstetricians are recommending a boost in folic acid intake as a way to potentially off-set the risk for developing craniosynostosis. Even with this boost in folic acid intake, there is still no guarantee that your child will not be born with the health complication. In addition to smoking, you may carry some other health risks factors that are pre-disposing your infant to congenital defects like craniosynostosis for which no amount of prevention can resolve.

As part of any family planning process, even before conception, it is important to discuss health concerns with a licensed healthcare professional. While many obstetricians strongly discourage smoking during pregnancy, there are some that fail to list the variety of health risks that are associated and, as a result, there are many pregnant women who continue to smoke without realizing the fetal development may result in craniosynostosis.