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State expands services for pregnant smokers

Thursday, May 8, 2008 11:31 PM PDT

By Barbara LaBoe

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Newly expanded services for pregnant smokers can’t come soon enough for Cowlitz County, which has rates more than double the state average.

The state Department of Health on Thursday announced expanded services for pregnant smokers through it’s Tobacco Quit Line, 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Extra follow-up services are available and coaches have received special training on the challenges pregnant women face while trying to stop smoking. Free nicotine replacement medications also may be available.

“Babies with moms who smoke are more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and have health problems like ear infections and pneumonia,” said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky in a press release.

Statewide, in 2006, more than 8,700 babies are born to women who smoke. The Cowlitz County Health Department estimates about 300 children are born locally each year to women who smoked during pregnancy.

And, while the overall state smoking rate has dropped in recent years, the smoking rate of pregnant women has remained static, according to the state.

“It’s vital that pregnant women get the support they need to quit for themselves and their babies,” said state Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes.

Locally, the Cowlitz County Health Department has taken several steps to address the county’s dismal maternal smoking rate.

From 2003 to 2005, Cowlitz County had the third highest maternal smoking rate in the state — 24 percent — behind only Grays Harbor (28 percent) and Wahkiakum (30 percent) counties. The state average for that time period was 10 percent.

Cowlitz’s 2003-05 numbers do show a slight decrease from previous years, but officials say it’s still far too high. Reducing the maternal smoking rate also is one of Pathway 2020’s goals for improving the community. In the community group’s 2006 report card — using 2005 numbers —the topic received a F grade. The county’s overall adult smoking rate also is high and received a D grade on the report card.

The numbers didn’t get any better in 2006.

In a trimester by trimester breakdown, Cowlitz County ranks more than double the state average — sometimes nearly three times as high. Statewide, for example, 10.1 percent of pregnant women smoke; in Cowlitz County it’s 27.5 percent. There also is no significant decrease it the maternal smoking rate as pregnancy progresses, according to Alicia Thompson, deputy director of community health and communicable disease.

With that in mind, health officials have started a number of local programs aimed at pregnant smokers.

The health department sent out reminders to providers about the importance of asking their pregnant patients about smoking and referring them to resources like the quit line. Health department staffers also conducted training for providers and other agencies on how to best approach pregnant smokers.

And, as subgroup of the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition’s tobacco coalition, the health department also has partnered with the Family Health Center to add extra incentives to pregnant patients who smoke.

Women who agree to set a quit date and undergo saliva tests to ensure they’re no longer smoking, will be given things such as gas cards or movies passes if they continue to not smoke, said Gayle Reid, of the health department.

The goals are twofold, reduce the number of pregnant women smoking and break the generational cycle of smoking that often is passed from mother to child, Reid said.

“We want our mothers and their babies healthier,” she said.

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doit wrote on May 9, 2008 6:00 AM:

" I quit smoking as soon as I found out I was pregnant. It is not hard if you really want to do it. People do what they want. "

another wrote on May 9, 2008 7:10 AM:

" This is a prime example of how we believe Government needs to protect us from ourself. "

Babies smoking should be illegal wrote on May 9, 2008 8:21 AM:

" Maybe it's time that we wake up some parents. Maybe it's time that we create some child endangerment laws involving smoking. Let's see a parent cannot give their kid a swat on the behind without getting into trouble but they are allowed to smoke in their presence. Shouldn't those rights be switched? When in the heck are we going to simply ban smoking altogether. We have the Liberal Democrats crying for socialism health care, and then they turn their back on problems that cause the need for healthcare. Once again a political agenda that just doesn't face reality. "

How about some perspective wrote on May 9, 2008 8:47 AM:

" I was born in 1959 and my mother smoked on all 4 of her pregnancies. Mom also has a masters degree in education, people just didn't know better. I never saw a seatbelt until 1970 and there was no such thing as a child seat. Yes we know much more about a lot of things now. Smoking is bad, smoking while pregnant is worse, smoking in the house is bad, smoking in the car with 4 kids is probably a lot worse. Let's not get into a frenzy over this, because unless you want to ban cigarettes and make smoking illegal there will always be problems with second hand smoke. "

Simply ban smoking wrote on May 9, 2008 8:58 AM:

" What a better world we would have for everyone -- non-smokers and smokers -- if we simply banned all smoking and selling of tobacco products. We spend billions of dollars every year on health needs from this nasty habit. Everyone complains that there isn't enough money in life today. Think about the waste that goes into smoking, the evil it does, and think about what you could do with the money you didn't need for cigarettes or for the doctors you need to care for your cancer. We are supposed to be the highest animal on the intelligence tree right? Do you see animals smoking? How intelligent are we? "

Shouldnt be allowed to have their kids wrote on May 9, 2008 9:09 AM:

" If a woman cannot stop smoking when she knows she's pregnant.... then her child should be immediately taken into child protective custody. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh... but a mother must be unselfish and put the child's health first! Obviously, a smoking mom isn't putting their childs NEEDS first. It's not fair to the poor defenseless child! Some people just don't take motherhood seriously.. It's a big task that involves a lot of responsibilities... and the most important one is making sure your child is safe! "

ban em wrote on May 9, 2008 9:29 AM:

" I agree that we should just ban the sell of cigarettes. They kill and our tax dollars are wasted on prevention that just doesnt work. I get sick and tired of people that claim they have no money for food and stick their hands out, yet somehow have enough money for smokes! Then, they end up in the hospital on our dime again with health issues because of the darn things. "

Doesnt the prohibition teach you something wrote on May 9, 2008 9:45 AM:

" We banned alcohol in the 20's and all that did was establish organized crime. The war on drugs is a rousing success, nobody uses illegal drugs anymore, right? The air and water pollution from industry and cars is really a problem, I guess we should ban industry and cars, then we could be unemployed and walking. Do any of you bloggers really think you could be successful in banning smoking. Because if you do you are really dull, dull, duller than dull. We can encourage people to quit and tax the crap out of them but not very much else. "

So Sad wrote on May 9, 2008 9:46 AM:

" This is so sad. By the way. I am addicted to fishing and can't quit. I'm running low on gear and gas. I guess I need to have a sitdown with my congressman and get relief from my addiction. "

Liberal Democrat wrote on May 9, 2008 9:58 AM:

" Smoking is baaaud...mmmmmK! But banning it? Not on your life...not when we, the Democrats of this state, get $2.02.5 per pack of your tax money to spend. Thank you, thank you very much! "

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