Smoking in pregnancy and SIDS

[MeltchettsLovelyMoustache]

Does anyone know how many cigarettes a day increases SIDS risk, or if its dose dependant (ie 5 a day is 5% higher etc)?

I am driving myself mental with anxiety. My DS is 3 months and I smoked while pregnant. Before pregnancy I was a very heavy smoker (30 a day) then during I smoked about 2-4 a day until 24 weeks when I smoked about 4 a week. I don't smoke now.

I wouldn't have smoked if I realised IYSWIM? I had dreadful anxiety throughout pregnancy and actively disconnected myself from it due to it. Now he's here I'm horrified I ever put him at risk. Now I'm petrified he's going to die of sids because of me :(

TIA, I can't find any studies which even define smoking in pregnancy.

There is a very useful factsheet on smoking in pregnancy and afterwards in relation to SIDS risk on the Lullaby Trust website here:

Smoking SIDS Risk Webpage

Smoking SIDS Risk Factsheet

In terms of research, which you asked for:

"There is strong, consistent evidence from studies worldwide that smoking during and after pregnancy increases the risk of SIDS. During pregnancy, the number of cigarettes smoked is highly associated with risk. Therefore, the more cigarettes smoked, the higher risk of SIDS. For example, two studies showed that the risk of SIDS was about 2½ to 4 times higher in mothers who smoked 1-10 cigarettes per day, versus the risk in non-smokers, and about 7 to 8½ times higher in mothers who smoke over 20 cigarettes a day. Passive smoking also significantly increases the risk of SIDS and the risk increases further where both parents smoke"

Having said all of that though, whilst I cannot pretend this risk isn't present, there are lots of SIDS risk factors which people knowingly discount. It is unlikely that a parent can irradiate all risks, much as we might try.

Maybe speak to your GP about your own levels on anxiety, you may be suffering from some post natal depression and can get help to deal with your anxiety levels.

Remember that back in the 1970s and 1980s women routinely smoked throughout pregnancy and around babies. While there might be a risk, lots of babies survived relatively fine through tis and many are now mothers themselves.