Amazing Images! How An Unborn Baby Reacts When A Pregnant Mum Smokes.

Using 4D ultrasound scan technology, Dr Nadja Reissland studied babies at 24, 28, 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. He discovered that when the mum lit up her cigarette, the baby was seen too wince.

 

He monitored 20 expecting mothers at the James Cook University in Middlesbrough. Four of the mums were 14-a-day smokers and produced chilling images.

 

The doctor hopes to expand his pilot study with a bigger sample. So far it has indicated that smoker's babies' central nervous systems may experience delayed development. He also hopes that it will help to deter pregnant mothers from smoking as they can physically see the differences in development of the foetus.

The report says:

 

“Studies have shown that lighting up reduces sperm count, harms egg quality, hastens the menopause, and increases the dangers of premature birth and the need for caesarean sections… It also reduces the chances of a woman becoming pregnant because it undermines the ability of fertilised eggs to implant in the lining of the womb, according to research to be published today.”

 

The co-writer of the study, Brian Frances from Lancaster University also said:

 

“Technology means we can now see what was previously hidden, revealing how smoking affects the development of the foetus in ways we did not realise. This is yet further evidence of the negative effects of smoking in pregnancy.”

 

The images are stirring concerns about the pain a foetus might suffer during an abortion if it is able to react so powerfully to a drag on a cigarette. However, we have to keep in mind that the study was carried out on babies older than 24 weeks, where normally an Abortion will only be performed if the woman's life is at risk or the baby is due to have serious birth defects if the pregnancy were to continue. Click here to see the images.