INFLUENCE OF SMOKING DURING PREGNANCY ON EARLY AND LATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD

Otprilike trećina žena reproduktivne dobi puši. Cigaretni dim sadrži sastojke štetne po zdravlje nerođenog djeteta, ali i za njegovo kasnije zdravlje tijekom života. Novorođenčad majki koje puše manje su porodne težine, a često su i prijevremeno rođena. Pušenje tijekom trudnoće gotovo 2 puta povećava rizik od rođenja djeteta niske porodne težine, što je povezano s povećanim morbiditetom i mortalitetom u perinatalnom razdoblju te dječjoj dobi. Dojenčad majki koje puše tijekom trudnoće imaju dva do pet puta veći rizik od sindroma nagle dojenačke smrti. Pušenje tijekom trudnoće također utječe na kasniji fizički i intelektualni razvoj djeteta. Cigaretni dim oštećuje pluća nerođenog djeteta u ključnom stadiju razvoja, što može dovesti do smanjenog kapaciteta pluća, češće pojavnosti respiratornih infekcija, astme te emfizema ¬kasnije u životu. Pušenje može doprinijeti nastanku određenih prirođenih malformacija. Trudnice treba upozoriti da pušenje izlaže njihovo dijete riziku, a napor za sprječavanje spomenutih komplikacija potrebno je usmjeriti na prevenciju uživanja nikotinskih proizvoda u djevojaka i žena generativne dobi.Among women of reproductive age approximately one-third smokes. Cigarette smoke contains substances harmful for the unborn baby and for the future health of the child. Babies whose mothers smoke are often smaller and ¬premature. Smoking increases the risk of low birth weight almost twice, which increases the risk for perinatal and infant morbidity and mortality. Babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are 2–5 times more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking in pregnancy also has implications for the long-term physical growth and intellectual ¬development. Cigarette smoke damages the unborn babies’ lungs at crucial points of development, leading potentially to reduced lung capacity, respiratory infections, asthma and lung emphysema later in life. Smoking may contribute to ¬certain birth defects. Pregnant women should be advised that smoking endangers their child and efforts to reduce the above-mentioned complications should be focused on preventing nicotine addiction among girls and women in reproductive age

Birth Weight of Healthy Newborns in Zagreb Area, Croatia

The aim of this study was to assess birth weight of healthy newborns from the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County, Croatia. Birth weights of healthy newborns, born at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Center »Zagreb« in the year 2001, were included into analysis. Since there were only few newborns in the 22nd–27th week of gestation, they were excluded from the study. Small number of data points was also noticed in 28th–36th week of gestation, and was supplemented with the data from the years 2000, 2002 and 2003. The method of analysis used in this study was described by Altman and Chitty (Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol., 101 (1994) 29). After the application of well defined exclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 4,252 newborns. Percentile values for the four groups of newborns (male gender–primipara, male gender–multipara, female gender–primipara, female gender–multipara) were defined, yielding highest birth weight values in the male gender–multipara group (50th percentile of 40th gestational week was 3551.3 g), while female gender–primipara newborns were the lightest among the four sub-samples studied (50th percentile of 40th gestational week was 3399.9 g). New percentile values for percentile curves plotting are presented here and recommended for use in the clinical practice