Maternal smoking can lead to which of the following effects on fetal assessment?

The impact of maternal smoking on fetal assessment is significant, especially concerning fetal behaviors. Maternal smoking has been associated with various adverse outcomes during pregnancy, one of which includes alterations in fetal movement and overall behavior.

Fetal behavior is often evaluated through ultrasound assessments, and studies have shown that smoking can lead to decreased fetal movements, alterations in heart rate patterns, and even changes in the overall levels of activity. These changes are crucial because they can indicate how the fetus is coping with the intrauterine environment and whether it might be experiencing stress or hypoxia due to maternal lifestyle choices.

In contrast, the other options do not reflect the realities of how maternal smoking affects fetal conditions. For instance, maternal smoking does not lead to increased placental efficiency, stable fetal growth, or improved fetal health outcomes; rather, it is linked to complications such as low birth weight, prematurity, and developmental issues. Hence, altered fetal behaviors stands out as the most accurate representation of the consequences of this exposure.