Great question — thank you for raising it!

While it's true that smoking during pregnancy reduces oxygen and nutrient supply to the fetus, research has also shown that it can increase the risk of certain specific birth defects.

Studies have linked maternal smoking to:

• Cleft lip and/or palate
• Heart defects (especially septal defects)
• Limb abnormalities
• Gastroschisis (a defect of the abdominal wall)

These risks are especially linked to smoking during the first trimester, when key organs are forming.

So yes, beyond general growth issues, smoking has been associated with specific fetal malformations, based on strong population-level studies