Public Health Can Help Pregnant Women Stop Smoking
October 28, 2916
Eligible Mothers Can Receive Free Diapers for One Year
“The Baby & Me - Tobacco Free Program” is a smoking cessation program which aims to reduce the use of tobacco products among women during and after their pregnancy.
“It is critical for women to remain tobacco-free during pregnancy and to ensure a tobacco-free home,” said Jeff Cooper, Health Commissioner, Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we must encourage pregnant women to quit smoking. The “Baby & Me - Tobacco Free Program” is research-based and is proven to help pregnant women quit smoking and remain tobacco-free throughout the postpartum period and beyond.
Facilitators of the program are trained to provide counseling support and resources that will encourage pregnant women to quit smoking.
Enrolled participants who successfully quit are eligible for free diapers
for up to one year following the birth of their baby.
Quitting smoking greatly reduces the health risks to the mother and baby. Research shows that babies born to mothers who do not smoke are born at a healthier weight, are less likely to be premature, and are more likely to have a normal birth. Remaining tobacco-free after the baby is born reduces the damaging effects of secondhand smoke, which is associated with ear infections, respiratory issues, allergies, and learning disabilities. Being tobacco-free increases the likelihood of positive health outcomes for the women and their families.
How “Baby & Me - Tobacco Free” Works
The “Baby & Me - Tobacco Free Program” is open to women who are pregnant and are current smokers or who quit smoking within three months of becoming pregnant. Women enrolled in the program must attend four counseling sessions prenatally and must complete a carbon monoxide test at each session.
Postpartum visits occur once a month for up to twelve months. Mothers will be tested to make sure they are still smoke-free. Upon successful testing results, participants receive a monthly $25.00 voucher for diapers. If there is another smoker living in the home with the mother, they are also eligible for an additional $25 per month in diaper vouchers if they successfully participate in the program.
About The Program
The “Baby & Me - Tobacco Free Program” employs effective cessation methods and follows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for treating tobacco use and dependence.
The program is being implemented in 15 states nationwide and has enrolled over 7,000 women. Funding for the local program is provided by the Ohio Department of Health.
For more information on the program and to enroll, contact Brenda Alexander, Program Coordinator, at (937) 496-3376 or visit www.babyandmetobaccofree.org.
