Smoking during pregnancy exposes the fetus to nicotine, which crosses the placenta and can harm brain development, leading to potential motor control problems in infants. Research shows that nicotine disrupts key parts of the growing brain, affecting systems that control movement and coordination.
Nicotine builds up in the fetus faster than in the mother because it passes easily through the placenta. As early as seven weeks into pregnancy, nicotine shows up in placental tissue. This causes blood vessels in the uterus and placenta to narrow, cutting down oxygen and nutrients to the baby. Without enough oxygen, the brain does not develop properly, which can impact motor skills like balance, grasping, and crawling.
Studies link prenatal nicotine exposure to changes in brain areas tied to movement. The prefrontal cortex, which helps with planning and control, gets damaged by nicotine. Neurotransmitter systems, like those for dopamine and serotonin, also go out of balance. These changes lead to issues such as lower brain weight, altered brain metabolism, and problems in the corpus callosum, the bridge between brain halves that coordinates body movements. For more details, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_nicotine_on_human_brain_development.
Even if a baby is born at normal weight, harm can still occur. A 2017 review noted that nicotine targets the fetal brain directly, causing lasting damage. The 2014 US Surgeon General report confirmed nicotine’s bad effects on brain growth during pregnancy. Infants may show motor delays, like trouble with fine motor tasks or gross motor skills such as walking.
Related risks include higher chances of ADHD, which often involves motor control issues like fidgeting or poor coordination. Using nicotine patches during pregnancy also raises ADHD risk in children, pointing to nicotine itself as the culprit, not just smoke. Sleep problems from tobacco exposure add to motor challenges, as poor rest affects coordination development. Check https://www.consultant360.com/story/using-nicotine-patch-during-pregnancy-tied-higher-adhd-risk-0 and https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/6453.
Vaping is not safer, as it delivers nicotine too. No evidence proves vaping helps pregnant women without risks to the baby. Overall, avoiding all nicotine sources protects infant motor development.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_nicotine_on_human_brain_development
https://www.consultant360.com/story/using-nicotine-patch-during-pregnancy-tied-higher-adhd-risk-0
https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/6453
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2405448121
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12741660/
