Abstract
The impact of smoking and alcohol consumption on fetal development: a review
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Department of Gynecological Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
Department of Education in Obstetrics, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
Nursing Problems 2026; 34 (1): 8-14
Abstract
Cigarettes
and alcohol are the most popular stimulants. In Poland, a large
proportion of the population habitually smokes tobacco products.
The report Health Behaviors of Pregnant Women shows that only
one out of ten women quit smoking in order to expand their family.
Every year in Poland, over 100,000 children are born exposed to
tobacco smoke in their prenatal development. In
2021, the average per capita consumption of pure alcohol in Poland
was nearly 10 liters. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the full
syndrome occur in 20 out of 1000 and 4 out of 1000 newborns,
respectively. Pregnant women who smoke and drink alcohol are at
greater risk of pregnancy-related pathologies and intrauterine growth
retardation. Fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder is incurable, but can be prevented by abstaining from
alcohol throughout pregnancy. The World Health Organization
(WHO) recommends raising awareness of the harmful effects of smoking
and taking action to support women in quitting the habit.
Keywords
alcohol, pregnancy, fetus, cigarettes
Integrated with
