A pilot study by researchers from Durham and Lancaster universities in the UK suggests the harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy may be echoed in the facial movements of unborn infants. Image credit: Durham University These ultrasound images at 32 weeks gestation show the increased mouth and facial-touch movements in the fetus of a smoking mother (top), compared with that of a nonsmoking mother (bottom).Image credit: Durham University 
 
 The study, led by Dr. Nadja Reissland of the Department of Psychology at Durham, also found that the effects of stress and depression during pregnancy may be reflected in the facial movements of fetuses, although smoking appears to have a greater impact. The team reached their findings - published in the journal Acta Paediatricia - by comparing the 4D ultrasound scans of fetuses whose mothers either engaged in smoking during pregnancy or avoided the habit. Smoking while pregnant is also more likely to result in preterm delivery and other health issues. What is more, the CDC state that 1 in 5 babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are born at a low birth weight, which can increase the risk of numerous health problems. Specifically, the researchers found that, compared with the fetuses of nonsmoking mothers, the fetuses of mothers who smoked during pregnancy showed a much higher rate of mouth and facial-touch movements than would normally be expected.
– It's not exactly bombshell news that smoking during pregnancy probably means bad news for the baby, but the CDC estimates that about 14% of pregnant women in the US still light up anyway. Researchers hope their new study shrinks that number even more, reports USA Today. Using high-definition images of fetuses, they found that those inside smokers touched their faces and moved their mouths significantly more than those in non-smokers. That kind of movement isn't a good sign, because healthy fetuses generally stop such activity over time. The study, then, suggests that "mothers who smoke may delay the development of their babies’ central nervous systems," explains the Independent. The researchers compared fetuses in 20 women, four of whom smoked, and took four sets of 4D ultrasound scans between 24 and 36 weeks. "Normal fetal behavior shows fewer movements, but the images suggest that fetuses in smokers are less mature in their behavior," says lead researcher Nadja Reissland of the UK's Durham University. The team will next use a larger sample of women to see if they can replicate the findings. Researchers also found increased movement in fetuses of women who were stressed or depressed while pregnant, but the association wasn't as strong as with smokers, reports Medical News Today. (Click to read about the bizarre case in which a girl was born pregnant.)