Tobacco Use During Pregnancy

Smoking during pregnancy is the most common preventable cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Cessation by the third trimester has consistently been associated with improved birth outcomes; however, the majority of women who obtain cessation during pregnancy, relapse in the first year postpartum. The majority of women who smoke during pregnancy developed their addiction to tobacco in early life, thus the need to intervene in the familial transmission of nicotine dependence is clear. This review discusses the epidemiology of tobacco use amongst pregnant women and factors associated with cessation. Specific intervention strategies are discussed and recommendations are provided to clinicians.