Study links smoking during pregnancy to birth defects

A new study has found that women who smoke while pregnant have an increased risk of having a baby with a birth defect.

University College London researchers found smokers are over 25 per cent more likely to have a baby with missing or deformed limbs or a cleft lip.

Smokers were also more likely to have a baby with a gastrointestinal defect and 33 per cent more likely to have skull defects.

The study’s lead author said many women who smoke while pregnant still do not know about these risks.

He added that some women still believe that if you smoke the baby will be small and that will make it easier when it comes to delivery.

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