smoking and pregnant

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect found at birth, and they affect 8 out of every 1,000 newborns in the United States. Genetics can play a role, as well as lifestyle factors. Sadly, a cause is only found in 15 percent of cases of this common birth defect.

According to a new study, published in the medical journal Heart, being both overweight and continuing to smoke in pregnancy can increase the risk that your baby will have a congenital heart defect.