Fact Sheet 
Prepared by the  March of Dimes, Indiana Chapter

Background
Smoking and Pregnancy

• Faced with budget shortfalls in 2003, the Indiana legislature appropriated $10.8 million for tobacco prevention spending, representing a cut of approximately 70% from the original allocation.  The CDC recommends that Indiana spend at least $34.8 million annually on tobacco control.
• The National Women’s Law Center ranked Indiana 48th – a failing grade - among states for its tobacco cessation programs and policies that target women.
• Smoking during pregnancy contributes significantly to the risk of premature birth.
• Indiana has the 4th highest smoking rate among women during pregnancy. Approximately 20% of Hoosier women smoke while pregnant. (Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation)
• The chance for a premature delivery almost doubles for pregnant women who smoke versus those who do not. (March of Dimes)
• Between 1991 and 2001 the rate of infants born pre-term in Indiana increased nearly 21%. (March of Dimes – Peristats)

March of Dimes Policy

• The March of Dimes recommends that women stop smoking before they become pregnant and remain smoke-free throughout pregnancy and after the baby is born.
• Even later in pregnancy, a woman can reduce the risks to her baby by stopping smoking.
• Both mother and father should refrain from smoking in the home and should ask visitors to do the same.
• The March of Dimes, along with one of its national prematurity partners, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommends an approach to smoking cessation counseling called the 5 As: Ask about tobacco use; Advise to quit; Assess willingness to make a quit attempt; Assist in quit attempt; Arrange follow-up.

Recommendation
The March of Dimes Indiana Chapter urges the Indiana General Assembly to sufficiently fund the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation agency to enable them to offer community and statewide programs, which will assist pregnant women to quit smoking.

For more information:  Jan Petty, State Director of Program Services and Public Affairs
   March of Dimes, Indiana Chapter
   (317) 262.4668 or jpetty@marchofdimes.com