New study finds that the risk of sudden infant death syndrome doubles if women smoke during pregnancy. (Photo: Getty Images)

A cigarette.

Researchers analyzed more than 20 million births, including more than 19,000 unexpected baby deaths, and found that smoking a single cigarette a day during pregnancy can double the risk of sudden unexpected death in infants.

"In addition, if you smoke, it's important to stop smoking well before you become pregnant," said Tatiana Anderson, lead author of the study, Neuroscientist at the Seattle Children's Research Institute. video on the study. "We found that mothers who smoked in the three months prior to pregnancy and quit in the first trimester were still nearly 50% more likely to suffer from SUID (Sudden unexpected infant death) compared to non-smokers. "

The results of the study were published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

SID cases include sudden infant death syndrome, choking, strangulation and unknown causes of death in infants under 1 year of age. Approximately 3,500 infants die each year from IDS.

If women do not smoke during pregnancy, the researchers said that the rate of SIDS could be reduced by 22%, thus avoiding up to 800 deaths a year.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, Chief Medical Officer of Health at the March of Dimes, warned against the idea that nicotine delivery devices are safer.

"Nicotine has also been associated with a significant part of the brainstem development of the infant," Gupta told HealthDay. "The nicotine is present in the spray device, so all the impacts we talk about are always harmful when nicotine is administered, regardless of the device.Nicotine and babies do not fit. "

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