Recent research has also suggested that second-hand smoke exposure during pregnancy is associated with a decrease in infant mental development index score and an increase in the risk of developmental delay in the infant (B. E. Lee et al., 2011), thereby extending the risk profile related to smoking exposure beyond just direct, primary smoke exposure during pregnancy. Taken collectively, these observations suggest that smoke exposure during pregnancy remains a common exposure that can have major ramifications on the in utero growth and development of the fetus. Further, due to the plethora of scientific data suggesting negative consequences associated with smoking during pregnancy, pregnant women are cautioned against smoking while pregnant (Cornelius & Day, 2009; Shea & Steiner, 2008). However, despite the large literature suggesting undesirable outcomes in children exposed to prenatal smoke exposure and warnings encouraging women to stop smoking while pregnant, the underlying biological processes in humans are not well understood. Thus, we turn our attention now to describing one potential piece of this puzzle – namely, fetal programming and how this may play an important role in future child development.
