Pregnancy And Smoking

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We know that smoking is unhealthy for us, and it is a particular risk during pregnancy where it can impact the unborn baby.

But, there is some good news on that front: Less than 10 percent of women continue to smoke when they are pregnant, according to the CDC. Overall, 8.4 percent of women said they smoked at any point during pregnancy, with 20.6 percent of women who smoked during the first or second trimesters quitting by the third trimester.

Smoking during pregnancy is considered to be one of the most modifiable risk factors associated with poor birth outcomes. CDC officials are hoping to decrease the percentage of pregnant women smoking to about 2 percent by the year 2020. Those most likely to smoke had less education: The rate was over 14.0 percent of pregnant women with less than a high school education.