Babies exposed to nicotine while in the uterus show behavioral and neurological abnormalities at birth. Nicotine, a potent drug that crosses the placenta, affects their nervous system in many ways.
Newborns exposed to nicotine in the uterus are more excitable and have abnormally tense muscles. They require more holding to comfort them than newborns not exposed to nicotine. They also are more likely to have feeding problems. The more the mother smoked while pregnant, the greater the abnormal findings in the their babies. Over time these differences disappeared.
It may be that the abnormal findings are really signs of nicotine withdrawal. Just as in babies born to mothers who use cocaine, these babies may be suffering the types of symptoms an adult does when quitting smoking.
Pediatrics, 6/03.
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