Editing Nicotine (section)

===Pregnancy and breastfeeding===
Nicotine has been shown to produce birth defects in some animal species, but not others;<ref name="TOXNET Nicotine entry" /> consequently, it is considered to be a possible [[teratogen]] in humans.<ref name="TOXNET Nicotine entry"/> In [[animal studies]] that resulted in birth defects, researchers found that nicotine negatively affects fetal [[brain development]] and pregnancy outcomes;<ref name="TOXNET Nicotine entry"/><ref name=SGUS2014>{{cite book|url=https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/21569/Share|title=The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General, Chapter 5 - Nicotine|year=2014|pages=107–138|publisher=[[Surgeon General of the United States]]|pmid=24455788|author1=National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention Health Promotion (US) Office on Smoking Health}}</ref> the negative effects on early brain development are associated with abnormalities in [[brain metabolism]] and [[neurotransmitter system]] function.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Behnke M, Smith VC | title = Prenatal substance abuse: short- and long-term effects on the exposed fetus | journal = Pediatrics | volume = 131 | issue = 3 | pages = e1009-24 | date = March 2013 | pmid = 23439891 | doi = 10.1542/peds.2012-3931 | pmc = 8194464 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Nicotine crosses the [[placenta]] and is found in the breast milk of mothers who smoke as well as mothers who inhale [[passive smoke]].<ref name=Chapman2015>{{cite web|url=https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/CTCB/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Policy/ElectronicSmokingDevices/StateHealthEcigReport.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/CTCB/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Policy/ElectronicSmokingDevices/StateHealthEcigReport.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=State Health Officer's Report on E-Cigarettes: A Community Health Threat|publisher=California Department of Public Health|date=January 2015}}</ref>

Nicotine exposure ''[[uterus|in utero]]'' is responsible for several complications of pregnancy and birth: pregnant women who smoke are at greater risk for both [[miscarriage]] and [[stillbirth]] and infants exposed to nicotine ''in utero'' tend to have lower [[birth weight]]s.<ref name=Holbrook2016>{{cite journal | vauthors = Holbrook BD | title = The effects of nicotine on human fetal development | journal = Birth Defects Research. Part C, Embryo Today | volume = 108 | issue = 2 | pages = 181–192 | date = June 2016 | pmid = 27297020 | doi = 10.1002/bdrc.21128 }}</ref> A [[McMaster University]] research group observed in 2010 that rats exposed to nicotine in the womb (via parenteral infusion) later in life had conditions including [[type 2 diabetes]], [[obesity]], [[hypertension]], neurobehavioral defects, respiratory dysfunction, and [[infertility]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bruin JE, Gerstein HC, Holloway AC | title = Long-term consequences of fetal and neonatal nicotine exposure: a critical review | journal = Toxicological Sciences | volume = 116 | issue = 2 | pages = 364–374 | date = August 2010 | pmid = 20363831 | pmc = 2905398 | doi = 10.1093/toxsci/kfq103 }}</ref>