Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with which perinatal risks?

• A. Decreased risk of SIDS
• B. Perinatal loss, SIDS, low birth weight, and prematurity
• C. Higher birth weight
• D. No impact

Answer: (B)

Maternal smoking during pregnancy damages fetal development by reducing placental blood flow and causing fetal hypoxia through carbon monoxide and nicotine exposure. This leads to several adverse perinatal outcomes, including the risk of perinatal loss, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), low birth weight, and prematurity. These effects occur together because impaired oxygen delivery and restricted growth influence fetal development across the timeline from conception to birth, increasing the likelihood of early delivery and growth restrictions, as well as higher vulnerability to SIDS after birth. The other options don’t fit: smoking does not decrease SIDS risk or increase birth weight, and it certainly has a measurable impact on perinatal outcomes, not none.