Expository or Persuasive?

Expository and Persuasive are two very different types of writing. An expository research paper summarizes the relavant information about a topic, and a persuasive research paper argues or proves a thesis; the writer's hypothesis. This kind of research also evaluates a position.

My topic, prenatal smoking: A causal factor in low birth weight, is tricky because I am informing about a topic but also hoping the information tthat I present persuades smoking mothers to realize the dangers, and stop smoking for the health of her baby. Persuasion is writing that appeals to reason, emotion, or ethics (the sense of right and wrong) which my topic deals with in way, but the focus of my research paper is really to inform readers about low birth weight, what it means, and also how smoking is a causal factor negative outcomes. So, expository or Persuasive? I would have to say expository; to explain.

Make-up story using often confused words

We got off the bus, and Principal Jones directed us to our site. The class was going on a field trip to Mount Everest, and we would soon begin our trek up the mountain. The weather at the bottom of the mountain was quite fare, however we did not know whether or not the conditions at the top would be as favorable. Suddenly, the wind kicked up and Mr. Jones began to lose the directions right out of his hands! How did they become loose? Beginning to panic, Mr. Jones climbed onto the stationary bus, using its rooftop as an altar. With both hands cupped around his eyes to block the sun, Mr. Jones looked as far as he could but the directions were no where in sight. Everyone was beginning to get angry because we had traveled so far, but now we did not have the right directions to find the track that would lead us safely up the mountain. It was not fair!

Aggravated, Mr. Jones decided to take a walk to blow off steam. "Look! Over there!" someone screamed. It was a piece of paper stuck against a large rock pinned down by the force of the wind. Could it be the missing directions? We were too far away to know for sure.
"Get your backpacks, and follow me! Hurry!" said Mr. Jones as he ran towards the rock.
Mr. Jones finally arrived at the location except he looked puzzled. He realized the piece of paper was too high to reach and began climbing the side of the mountain. "You're gonna fall!" someone screamed. Two of the tallest guys went over to help hold onto Mr. Jones whose feet were about to slip out from underneath him. Glad for the help, Mr. Jones took in a deep breath pondering what could have happened and the effect of a possible fall.

The class stood staring with anticipation as Mr. Jones grabbed the piece of paper. He threw it down and stomped it to the ground; it was only a piece of stationery. "Stationary!" shouted Mr. Jones. "How cute" he continued, "Someone tried to write a love letter, only they forgot to cite Shakespeare!" You could now see the vein popping out of Mr. Jones forehead as his sarcasm heightened. This field trip was turning out to be a nightmare. All the commotion was begining to affect and alter everyone's mood, especially Mr. Jones.

"It's getting late!" someone whined from the group. "Can't we just start climbing?" said another. Mr. Jones faced the class, rolled his eyes and said, "You all know the principle for mountain climbing. One must follow the path because it is the safest way to go. Plus, the guide has a copy of our route and in-case something should happen, they will be able to send out a rescue team!" His voice went from yelling to a low pitched growl. The way he was talking, someone should be preparing our funeral rites!

"Everyone set up camp" said Mr. Jones. "We better take advantage of the remaining sunlight while it lasts." His voice was somewhat back to normal this time. "We will just have to accept the fact that the directions are gone, and we'll have to contact the guide through the radio tomorrow morning. For now, we have to be patient."

Early the next morning while most of us were still asleep, Mr. Jones went to the bus to get the radio. It wasn't there! He searched his backpack, but it wasn't there either. He started rummaging his way through everyone's tent in search for the missing radio. "First the directions, now this!" exclaimed Mr. Jones. "Now this isn't funny, who's got the radio?! Most of the class just pulled their sleeping bags over their heads, trying to block out Mr. Jones and his ranting...is it time to go home yet?!

Fine Tuning

My topic, maternal smoking during pregnancy is actually quite broad. There is a lot of research such as the effects of smoking on the fetus in utero, the adverse effects of maternal smoking on negative pregnancy outcomes, the effects of maternal smoking on the development of the child later in life....and the list goes on and on. I was finding so much general information and actually didn't know where to focus, however I found the area of birth weight to be the most interesting, and the most influenced (and preventable) by prenatal smoking.

Maternal smoking increases the chance of having a LBW baby by nearly 50%. I also found through research that having LBW baby means more than having just a small baby. LBW babies have an increased chance of developing illness and disease later in life.

What is Nicotine and is it addictive?

Yes, nicotine is addictive. Most smokers use tobacco regularly because they are addicted to nicotine. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) nicotine dependence is included under the general definition of substance dependence. The criteria for substance dependence is based on a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiologic symptoms indicating that the individual continues use of the substance despite significant substance-related problems (DiFranza, par 1). The definition of nicotine dependence has 7 criteria, and the DSM-IV requires a person to meet at least 3 of the 7 to be considered nicotine dependent (DeFranza, par 2).

In the United States, it is estimated that 18 percent of pregnant women smoke during their pregnancies. This number is quite high, but in defense of mothers who smoke, most want to stop however find it very difficult to quit. “Most smokers identify tobacco use as harmful and express a desire to reduce or stop using it” (Tobacco, 3). An estimated 35 million smokers report wanting to quit smoking each year, but unfortunately only about 6 percent are successful for more than a month.

There are more than 4,000 chemicals found in the smoke of tobacco products. Of these, nicotine is the primary reinforcing component of tobacco that acts on the brain (Tobacco, 2). A key brain chemical involved in medicating the desire to consume drugs is the neurotransmitter dopamine. Research has shown that nicotine increases levels of dopamine in the reward circuits which is what creates the pleasurable sensations experienced by smokers.

Nicotine’s pharmacokinetic properties also enhance its abuse potential. Cigarette smoking produces a rapid distribution of nicotine to the brain, with drug levels peaking within 10 seconds of inhalation. The acute effects of nicotine diminish within a few minutes, along with the feelings of reward. To prevent withdrawal, the smoker has to continue dosing in order to maintain the drug’s pleasurable effects (Tobacco, 3).

Citation:

DiFfanza, Joseph R. “ Implications of the Autonomy Theory of Nicotine Dependence” Medscape General Medicine. (28 Aug. 2002). 14 Apr. 2007.
<www.medscape.com/viewarticle/440407>

“Tobacco Addiction.” National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Report Series. 2006. 10 Apr. 2007.
<http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/RRTobacco.pdf>

New research: Maternal smoking related to overweight children

People are well aware of the health consequences of smoking and research studies are being done all over the world, informing the public about new and important findings. For example, a new study suggests that maternal smoking could be linked to childhood obesity. One theory for this is based on muscle growth. The study basically states that babies who are small and thin at birth lack muscle, which is a deficiency that will most-likely persist after birth. It states that the critical period for muscle growth occurs in utero and that there is little cell replication after birth. Furthermore, if nourishment is compromised in utero, muscle will not have the opportunity to grow and develop to its full potential. This situation can be unfortunate because muscle plays a very important role in the functioning of the body, for example burning fat for energy. Due to lack of muscle development, LBW babies may grow up to have a disproportionately high fat mass in relation to lean body mass, which can lead to another danger such as insulin resistance (Barker, 16). Another theory as to why maternal smoking is associated with over-weight children is attributed to the process of “catch up growth,” commonly experienced among LBW infants. Babies born with a lower than average weight go through a period of rapid growth afterward to catch up to where they should be. During accelerated growth, a baby’s body is working extra hard and overcompensating in order to reach normal weight. This can affect the baby’s metabolism, making it harder to regulate food intake and also making the baby more susceptible to weight gain later in life. Also, infants of smoking mothers go through a form of nicotine withdrawal after birth, and similar to smokers trying to kick the habit, may develop problems with appetite control.

Citation:

Barker, David JP. “Low Birth Weight, Early Growth and Chronic Disease Later in Life.”
Pediatric Basics: The Journal of Pediatric Nutrition and Development. 104 (2003): 12-19. 10 Apr. 2007. <http://www.gerber.com/content/usa/html/pages/pediatricbasics/pdffiles/PedBasics_104.PDF>

Source Summary: Causes and Implications of Low Birth Weight Infants

This website was very simple and easy to read, but at the same time was very professional and informative. The focus was on low birth weight (LBW) and the primary determining factors, smoking included among several others. The only problem I found was that the information presented on smoking and LBW was very general. The article’s main purpose was to address the different factors contributing to LBW, so it did not go into details, but instead just gave general information. I thought it gave useful statistics and a basic understanding of the negative outcomes associated with LBW babies.

Citation:

Causes and Implications of Low Birth Weight Infants. Stanford University.
20 Feb. 2007

Source Summary: Truth & Consequences, Addressing Low Birth Weight Infants

This website represents the articles and resources that have appeared in the latest printed
editions of the Expectant Mother's Guide. The Expectant Mother's Guide is a semi
annual publication of Spindle Publishing Company that includes a series of printed
booklets designed to provide expectant and new parents with local resources relating to
pregnancy, childbirth, baby and parenting. This website included a lot of good
information regarding pregnancy, however I only found a little bit if information useful
for research. The article I found most helpful was one that addressed low birth weight
infants. I learned the distinction between normal and low birth weight.

Citation:

Wilson, Ann M. “Truth & Consequences, Addressing Low Birth Weight Infants.” New Jersey
Coalition for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities. 21 Feb. 2007.

Source Summary: Effects of Maternal Cigarette Smoking on Birth Weight and Preterm Birth – Ohio,

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is a weekly report, prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The series contains data on specific diseases as reported by state and territorial health departments. Also included are reports on topics of international interest and notices of events of interest to the public health community. I found information specific to Ohio regarding effects of prenatal smoking on birth weight and preterm birth. I found this to be a reliable source. The report was compiled from Ohio resident’s birth certificates that since 1989 gave detailed information about maternal behaviors during pregnancy and complications of pregnancy. I never even knew birth certificates contained this kind of information.

Citation:

“Effects of Maternal Cigarette Smoking on Birth Weight and Preterm Birth – Ohio,
1989.” MMWR Weekly 39:38 (28 Sept. 1990): 662-665. 20 Feb. 2007

Source Summary: Low Birth Weight, Early Growth and Chronic Disease Later in Life

Pediatric Basics provides pediatric health care professionals with the latest scientific research affecting the nutrition and development of infants and toddlers. Low birth weight is now known to be associated with increased rates of coronary heart disease and related disorders later in life. Recent observations have shown that impaired growth in infancy and rapid childhood weight
gain exceed the long-term negative health effects of impaired prenatal growth. This article was particularly useful for learning about the effects of LBW and the impact it has on infants both immediate and long-term.

Citation:

Barker, David JP. “Low Birth Weight, Early Growth and Chronic Disease Later in Life.”
Pediatric Basics: The Journal of Pediatric Nutrition and Development.
104 (2003): 12-19. 10 Apr. 2007.
<http://www.gerber.com/content/usa/html/pages/pediatricbasics/pdffiles/
PedBasics_104.PDF>

Source Summary: Tobacco Addiction

Tobacco Addiction includes the latest scientific information about tobacco addiction, intended to help readers understand its harmful effects as well as identify best practices for its prevention and treatment. Understanding tobacco addiction is an important aspect of prenatal smoking because it explains why so many woman continue to smoke while pregnant, despite the obvious risks. Many woman want to stop smoking, however find it very difficult to quit. I learned a lot about tobacco and nicotine addiction and found this source to be very reliable and accurate. The report also included statistics, and I was able to get an idea of tobacco addiction on a broad level.

Citation:

“Tobacco Addiction.” National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Report Series. 2006.
10 Apr. 2007.
<http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/RRTobacco.pdf>

Source summary: 2004 Surgeon General’s Report on The

This is a report summarizing the findings of the 2004 Surgeon General’s Report on The
Health Consequences of Smoking. The Report discusses various aspects of cigarette
smoking and the effects if has on the body, but I focused on the section addressing
women and reproductive health. The report documents that smoking harms every phase
of reproduction, increasing the risk of complications during pregnancy; It raises the risk
of premature birth, low birth weight infants, stillbirth, and infant mortality. This
information was helpful, and I was also able to get some background information about
Luther Terry, the first Surgeon General in the US who linked cigarette smoking to 3
major health problems.

Citation:


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The Health Consequences of
Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2004. 9 Jan. 2007. Office of the
Surgeon General. 5 Feb. 2007.

Source Summary: Maternal Smoking and Other Factors in Low Birth Weight

FORCES is an acronym of Fight Ordinances and Restrictions to Control and Eliminate Smoking. Forces is a pro-tobacco website, based on the values of liberty for every individual in his personal choices. Forces is aligned with those who fight the antismoking cartel, which they feel are basically false and oppressive. I found this website to be one of the better anti-smoking sites because it provides research and covers a wide variety of topics related to smoking. The articles definitely come across as bias, and sometimes offensive, however the information is presented in a somewhat educational manner. Most of the articles also include bibliographical information. I was able to use this site for my “anti-paper” but also got a good look into how it might feel to be on the other side; from a smoker’s view. I’m a non-smoker, so it put my thoughts about smoking into perspective and allowed me to look at it in a different light.
I used one main article from this site, titled Maternal Smoking and Other Factors in Low Birth Weight. The author, Wanda Hamilton is basically trying to say that there must be other explanations as to why LBW rates are so high in the United States, aside from maternal smoking. She includes statistical informaton showing that the rate of maternal smoking is going down, while the rate of LBW babies is going up. Wanda also includes information suggesting that socioeconomic status is the single greatest risk factor for preterm birth and LBW.

Citation:

“Hamilton, Wanda.” Forces International. 12 Mar. 2007.

Source Summary: National Center for Health Statistics

Health, United States, 2006 is the 30th report on the health status of the Nation and is
submitted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to the President and Congress of the United States. The Health, United States series presents national trends in health statistics. The information pertaining to prenatal smoking and low birth weight was especially helpful because I was able to obtain current data and statistics. This research material is important and necessary because it explains different trends in maternal smoking based on criteria such as race, age, and education of mother, as well as birth weight determined by the smoking status of mother; Helpful background information.

Citation:

National Center for Health Statistics. 24 Jan. 2007. Health, United States, 2006. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. 14 Apr. 2007.

Blog Summary: What is Nicotine Withdrawal Syndrome?

While searching for more research about prenatal smoking, I discovered an interesting blog on the web that talked about the withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation, and the experiences of people who try to stop smoking. I believe this article is helpful in explaining why it is so hard for mothers (or anyone) to quit such an addictive habit and also in emphasizing that the negative symptoms will not last forever.
Nicotine Withdrawal Syndrome is caused by the absence of the drug nicotine (an addictive substance put into cigarettes) and researchers know this because the symptoms stop only when nicotine is administered, for example through some other form such as the nicotine “patch.”
The main withdrawal symptoms highlighted in the article were reported as irritability, restlessness, depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, poor sleep, hunger, and craving for tobacco. Professor John Hughes of the University of Vermont studied this phenomenon extensively, concluding that half of the six hundred people in his study who quit smoking without any help, experienced a significant increase in at least four of these symptoms within two days of quitting. On the bright side, after 30 days most were finding it much easier and less than one in five were still suffering from an increase in four symptoms. The author of the blog entry, Dr. Foulds, begins his article with personal experience right after quitting, “I was like a bear with a sore head - even the dog stayed out of my way - but after a couple of weeks the dog was back at my side and I knew I was over the worst.”
In conclusion the article points out the fact that not everyone experiences the same degree of negative withdrawal symptoms, however most people experience the worse just after quitting, with each day getting better. Nicotine takes about 24 hours to leave the body and for withdrawal symptoms to reach their peak. It is clear that most withdrawal symptoms return to normal within a month. A couple of months after quitting, most ex-smokers experience fewer unpleasant symptoms, and actually feel that their mood is better than while they were smoking.

Citation:

Foulds, Jonathan. “What is Nicotine Withdrawal Syndrome?” [Weblog entry.] Freedom from
Smoking. Healthline. (26 Mar. 2007). 11 Feb. 2007.
<http://www.healthline.com/blogs/>

What is low birth weight and how does smoking have an influence?

There has been enough research to safely conclude that smoking while pregnant affects the developing fetus, but in what ways exactly, and to what extent are the questions we have to ask. The most commonly reported side effect of smoking while pregnant is a low birth weight baby. “Infants born to smokers were more than twice as likely to have low birth weight as were infants born to nonsmokers” (Effects). Prenatal smoking is thought to account for an estimated 20 to 30% of cases of low birth weight (primary), and some may wonder what actually classifies as low birth weight, why it’s dangerous, and how exactly smoking affects this outcome.

An infant is classified as having low birth weight if the baby weighs less than 2500g (5 ½ pounds). Most infants weigh around 3400g which is an average of 7 pounds. Why is having a small baby so dangerous anyways? Babies born with lower-than-average birth weight are more likely to get infections and have other health problems (Primary). Also, infants weighing less than 2500g are at a greater risk of death within the first month of life, as well as increased risk for developmental disabilities and illness throughout their life.

What exactly do we know about the way cigarettes affect a baby’s size and birth weight? Nicotine and carbon monoxide appear to have the most significant effects on a developing fetus. When nicotine is inhaled, the arteries inside the placenta constrict and tighten up, reducing the normal blood flow to the fetus. Carbon Monoxide effects the development of a fetus by reducing the adequate delivery of oxygen to fetal tissues (Pergament).

Decreasing the number of cigarettes smoked per day can lessen the risks of smoking, but it is important to encourage women to quit smoking all together in order to completely eliminate the adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight (Pergament).

Reflection

So far, my research process is going pretty well. I have been able to find numerous sources about the health risks of smoking during pregnancy, and I’m learning a lot of useful information. Up until this point, I have developed a research topic, found two different sources and summarized them, and also located information about 2 important figures that have made landmark contributions in the study of health risks of smoking.

Most of my research has been done from the comforts of my own home. I try to avoid the long hike to the library, fighting campus traffic, and also parking 10 miles away (well not quite that far). I do access the library’s website though, so I feel some justification in boycotting the library building. When using the library search engine I tend to have a hard time searching for scholarly research articles and finding exactly what I’m looking for. I know the research is there, but I must not be putting in the right combinations of key words. In that case, I do a Google or yahoo search which provides hundreds of related sites. I do recommend this way to other students, but with caution. If a website is reputable, they will almost always have references listed at the end of the article. I just take these citations and cut and past the journal name into the library search engine to retrieve the original document, then I print it out for my own use. I have found this method to work very well in finding research journal articles because it saves me a lot of time, and I get less frustrated because I feel like I’m actually making progress, and not just sitting in front of my computer for hours getting no results.

Overall, the research process is going smoothly, however I have one worry. I’m afraid that I might get bored with my topic, not because it isn’t interesting but because I feel like there is only so much I can learn and there isn’t a lot of room for new discovery or approaching the topic from a different angle.

Public Views on Cigarettes and health, Changed

Today, “everyone knows how bad smoking is, but it’s actually worse.” This statement comes from a discussion out of the Surgeon Generals report on The Health Consequences of Smoking in 2004. The main job of the Surgeon General is to educate the American people, and provide the best scientific information available on how to improve health and minimize the risk of illness and injury (Health). The Surgeon General has a long history in exposing the risks of tobacco use, and In 1964, Surgeon General Luther Terry released a groundbreaking study. Terry's study exposed the dangers of cigarette smoking and concluded that there was a causal relationship between smoking and three diseases. In releasing this information to the public, Terry knew he would have to call for a fundamental change in the way our country viewed tobacco at the time. In 1964, Smoking was quite popular and more than 42% of Americans smoked (Health). Up until then, people were generally un-aware of the health risks caused by cigarettes. A clear connection was made between cigarette smoke and health risks, and Luther Terry's report would become a stepping stone to new and future health discoveries.
Terry's report sparked an increased concern about tobacco that led to a broad-based anti-smoking campaign (Luther). Even after leaving the post in 1965, Luther Terry continued to play a leading role in the campaign against smoking. His report was responsible for passing the Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965 which mandated the familiar Surgeon General’s warning labels on cigarette packages. Terry also helped to obtain a ban on cigarette advertisements on radio and television which was put into effect in 1971 (Salter).

Another landmark event that affected the way we view cigarettes today was attributed to a man named Jeffery Wigand who was a top CEO at Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation. Wigand essentially exposed Big Tobacco and went public about inside information he knew about the company, and their scandal to illegally alter and raise nicotine levels put into cigarettes. He received death threats, and his coming out ultimately changed his life and the life of Big Tobacco. Wigand's confessions led to FBI investigations and as a result, tobacco companies ended up paying out billions of dollars in health costs (Salter). Jeffery Wigand has become a widely known figure in the fight for educating the public about the dangers of smoking.

These landmark events and two important individuals have made crucial contributions in informing the public the truths about tobacco use and cigarette smoking in our country today.

Works Cited:

Salter, Chuck. “Jeffrey Wigand: The Whistle-Blower.” Fast Company. (April 2002).
11 Feb. 2007.
<www.fastcompany.com/articles/2002/05/wigand_Printer_Friendly.html>

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking:
A Report of the Surgeon General, 2004. 9 Jan. 2007. Office of the Surgeon General.
5 Feb. 2007.
<http://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/news/speeches/SgrSmoking_05272004.htm>

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Luther Leonidas Terry (1991-1965).
4 Jan. 2007. Office of the Surgeon General. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/history/bioterry.htm

Picture Citations:

Peradotto, Nicole. JeffreyWigand.com. 6 Feb. 2007.
< http://www.jeffreywigand.com/insider/index.php>


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Surgeongeneral.gov. 3 Jan. 2007. Office
of the Surgeon General. 6 Feb. 2007.
<http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/history/sglist.htm>

Peer Review Session #1

During our first peer review session, my group included Ann, Cody, Lindsay, and myself. We read over each others 2 page papers that covered important figures in our field; afterwards we had a discussion and gave feedback.
Ann’s research topic deals with End of Life Ethics, and in her 2 page paper talked about a nurse who first studied the rights and needs of dying individuals. Ann’s paper was clear, easy to read, and had a very nice flow. I didn’t find any major errors other than simple grammatical corrections. Overall, it was very well written and provided insightful information.

Cody’s research topic deals with Advertising, and his paper, “Ethics in Advertising,” focused mainly on Ben Franklin and the controversy over the things he printed and released to the public. I enjoy reading Cody’s work because he writes with an internal voice, as if he is talking, however that type of writing is not the most effective when documenting research. The only other corrections I found were the use of slash marks, and a few long sentences. The sentence structure was not “wrong” I just found that if they were shorter and more concise, the writing would be more effective and less confusing to the reader. Overall, the paper was very interesting and informative.

Lindsay wrote, “Founding Fathers of Complementary and Alternative Medical Treatment” which dealt with the origins of alternative medical practices. Her paper included a lot of information, which was interesting, but at times, was confusing. She used a lot of Chinese words that described ancient practices and books, but didn’t give an interpretation of their meaning which made it difficult to follow. I understood the basic idea, and Lindsay conveyed the main idea well, however I found myself simply skipping over all the words I didn’t understand because they were hard to decipher and all sounded the same. One last suggestion I had for Lindsey was trying not to repeat the same word (tomorrow) over and over. Overall, the paper included a lot of interesting information for example the origin of the well know symbol Yin and Yang.

SUMMARY: Smoking During Pregnancy and Newborn Neurobehavior

The source I will be summarizing comes from an article in Pediatrics, the Official Journal Of The American Academy of Pediatrics. The article, “Smoking During Pregnancy and Newborn Neurobehavior,” reported a study of the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy and its relation to newborn neurobehavior. The study included a sample of 27 nicotine exposed, and 29 unexposed full-term infants with no medical problems, all coming from comparable social class backgrounds. Mothers were not allowed to use of any other illegal drugs, during pregnancy.

Cigarette use was self-reported, and mothers were encouraged to admit smoking patterns. In order to increase accuracy, nicotine exposure was determined by cotinine in maternal saliva in order to confirm what was actually reported. The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) was used to measure neurobehavioral function and was administered by masked examiners. All infants born to mothers in this study were tested before hospital discharge, therefore eliminating any factors related to second hand smoke inhalation, and its possible effects on neurobehavior.

The results reported significant differences between the two groups of infants. Those infants born to mothers who smoked reported to be more excitable and hypertonic, required more handling and showed more stress/absence signs in three main areas; the central nervous system, gastrointestinal, and visual areas. A higher amount of maternal salivary cotinine was related to greater signs of stress, including excitability, and visual stress in infants. Basically, the more cigarettes smoked, the greater amount of stress associated with the newborn. As a result of prenatal tobacco exposure on newborn neurobehavior, the study suggests the relationship could be an indication of neonatal withdrawal from nicotine.

CITATION:
Law, Karen L., et al. "Smoking During Pregnancy and Newborn Neurobehavior."
Pediatrics 111.6 (2003): 1318-1323. 24 January 2007 http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/111/6/1318.

Exploring the research topic: Effects of Smoking on Fetal Development

I am interested in researching the effects of maternal smoking and pregnancy. I know, as most of us do, that smoking is unhealthy, however I do not know in what specific areas it effects the unborn fetus. I would like to explore the topic to see where I find the most evidence and how maternal smoking is negatively linked to the development of her unborn baby. I am also interested in learning about any developmental issues in children after they are born to mothers who smoked while pregnant.

Does smoking while pregnant have any effects on breast feeding? What are some evident side effects to those infants who are born to mothers that smoked while pregnant? Can a baby become addicted to nicotine and suffer withdrawals once born? These are just a few questions I have considered, and in looking for the answers, along with any others I find, I can narrow my focus in order to put together a well organized, easy to follow persuasive research paper.

I do not have any children of my own, nor do I smoke, however I have a sister that is 4 months pregnant who has not yet quit smoking. She does not think there is anything wrong with having a cigarette every once in a while, but I try to convince her otherwise. I feel this research paper will allow me to show her evidence of the negative ways she is effecting her unborn baby, and hopefully it will be enough to make her stop. She uses the excuse that my mother smoked with three of us, and "we are all fine" (There are five of us all together). I just don't agree and want to persuade her to see my point so that she can stop putting her baby in danger, before it's too late, if it isn't already.