Local Programs

• We work to improve the health of babies across the country.
• Programs are aimed at supporting moms-to-be and professionals.
• We offer comfort and support to families with a baby in the NICU.

Oregon chapter

"Baby & Me: Tobacco Free" is an incentive-based program utilizing the 5'As counseling approach to assist pregnant women in quitting smoking and to help them stay tobacco-free after the birth of their baby.  The population served was economically disadvantaged smoking women receiving prenatal and postpartum services through Douglas County Public Health Programs (Prenatal Clinic Care, Family Planning, Maternity Case Management, Babies First, Healthy Start, WIC). 

This program involved:

• Conducting 5'As cessation counseling training for participating public health program staff and local health care providers.
• Enrolling and collecting baseline data on participants.
• Providing four or more prenatal cessation counseling sessions for each participant. Participants who test smoke-free at each session receive a $10 gift certificate and are entered into a drawing for a Baby & Me gift basket.  
• Using carbon monoxide (CO) testing to determine smoke free status during pregnancy and after delivery. 
• Conducting monthly visits with participants for 6 months following delivery to monitor smoking status, providing support and incentives. Participants who remain smoke-free after the birth of their babies receive a $20 diaper voucher each month for up to 6 months postpartum. 
• Compiling class attendance records, number of vouchers issued/redeemed, quit status during pregnancy and at 3 and 6 months postpartum. 

The results included:

• Nineteen professional staff were trained on the 5'As method.
• Fifty-three women received services.
• Seventy-nine percent were smoke-free during pregnancy.
• One-hundred percent of the women who delivered during the term of the project were smoke-free at the time of delivery.
• Fifty percent of the women who were smoke-free during pregnancy remained smoke free during the postpartum period.
• Upon request by program participants, carbon monoxide testing was also provided for husbands/partners of the pregnant women receiving services. 
• Parents of pregnant teens agreed to quit smoking to support their daughters' quit attempt. 

Lessons learned:

• Recruitment of participants was surprisingly difficult. To address this issue, a program flyer was developed and marketing was broadened.  Enrollment increased as a result.
• Increased cost of tobacco products is an incentive to quitting.  Having participants determine the amount of money they spend on tobacco products each month is a good exercise.