Babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are twice as likely to have a cleft palate or lip as those whose mothers didnt, research claims.
The report published in The Journal of Pediatrics today measured the levels of cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, in the blood from about 500 pregnant women.
'This research is the first time we've been able to measure something in this case cotinine and determine the risk of smoking during pregnancy for oral-facial birth defects,' Gary Shaw, from the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute in Oakland, said.
Nearly 7,000 babies are born annually with an oral-facial cleft in the United States. Experts claim that those suffering with oral clefts often have difficulty feeding, frequent ear infections, hearing loss, speech difficulties, and dental problems.
The birth defects usually occur by the seventh week of pregnancy and can be repaired by surgery.
'The message to women is simple and clear: Don't smoke during pregnancy or even if you are considering becoming pregnant,' added Dr Jennifer Howse.
'If we can help mothers quit smoking, we can help give more babies a healthy start in life.'
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