Pregnant and Still Smoking After All These Years?

Women who smoke during pregnancy incur excess risk for preterm delivery and infant death. According to Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data from 40 U.S. states, self-reported prevalence of smoking before pregnancy did not change significantly from 2000 to 2010. In 2010, 23% of U.S. mothers in 27 states reported smoking during the 3 months before pregnancy, and 11% said they smoked during pregnancy. However, these rates varied markedly by region: although >30% of mothers in West Virginia reported smoking during pregnancy, <5% of mothers in Utah (and, interestingly, New York City) did so.