Is the obstetrical and anesthetic management of pregnant women who smoke different from that for a pregnant women who does not smoke? This was the question the experts were asked during the first "Tobacco and pregnancy" Consensus Conference. To address these two questions a Medline and Embase search was carried out. The review of the literature confirmed the limited number of reported studies directly concerned, from the obstetrical or anesthesia point of view, with the problems of the management of women who smoke. Consequently, we are not able to suggest detailed recommendations. However, during the perinatal period, the correlation between tobacco and some obstetrical or surgical complications have been established. On this basis, studies must be undertaken in order to propose an optimal attitude for pregnant smokers.