Issue link: https://hi.iaq.net/i/670243
Key facts • Before birth, the health of the baby is tied closely to the health of the mother. ° Smoking in pregnancy is linked to slow fetal growth, premature birth and stillbirth. It can also cause the placenta to break away (abruption), which is very dangerous to both mother and baby. The mother's risk of high blood pressure is increased. ° Some pollutants, when breathed by the mother, can cross through the placenta to the developing baby. Particulates and heavy metals are two examples. ° Air pollution can affect growth of the unborn baby and may be linked to premature birth. • Development in the womb is rapid. ° By 3–4 weeks of pregnancy, the heart is beating. ° The major organs are formed by 12 weeks, and the endocrine (hormone) system is functioning. ° At 16 weeks, the main tube system of the lungs (the bronchial tree) is formed. ° By 6 months, most of the brain, spinal cord and nerves are in place. ° Around 7 months, the lungs' air sacs (alveoli) begin to form. Half of them are completed by the end of a full-term pregnancy. ° These are all critical points where air pollution or exposure to smoking could cause harm. © Royal College of Physicians 2016 35 3 Summary