Shawna Eddy was almost five months pregnant when she walked into the First District Health Unit on May 10, 2010. Not long before, she had found some literature about Baby & Me, a new program for pregnant women, in the break room where she worked. The program would help her to quit smoking, and if she did, she would receive vouchers for diapers, a much needed commodity for a new mother.

The trouble was that Eddy was a pack-a-day smoker. She was beginning to cut back to six to seven cigarettes daily, but it wasn’t enough.

Bonnie Riely, the tobacco cessation coordinator for First District Health Unit, met with Eddy and conducted a test using a carbon monoxide detector that measured Eddy’s carbon monoxide levels, as well as the levels for her fetus. The reality hit Eddy. Her carbon monoxide level was at a 7, or 1.12 percent; for her fetus, that was nearly doubled, to 2.19 percent.

“She became a little emotional, because it’s one thing to damage yourself, but when you’re harming your baby…,” Riely said.

According to Riely, smoking while pregnant could lead to risks of childhood obesity, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

By the second visit, Eddy’s carbon monoxide level was 2. She had used Quitline, a hotline that helps smokers and spit-tobacco users quit.

Generally, if participants aren’t at a zero carbon monoxide level by the fourth visit, they are expelled from the program.

Riely encourages women to come in as soon as possible, as to nip it – “it” being the addiction to smoking while pregnant – in the bud.

“The longer I have them, the more education I can give them,” Riely said.

Even after getting the results following the fourth visit, participants are required to come in monthly for the remainder of their pregnancy. Even after Eddy gave birth to her son, Daiden, on Oct. 20, 2010, she was still required to come in as part of the program. After the baby is born, with each successful month of having a low carbon monoxide level this is tested with the pump, as well as saliva tests to discern from second-hand carbon monoxide inhalation a $25 voucher is given to the mother. This voucher can be used for the purchase of diapers at Walmart. With the voucher, Eddy said she purchases two boxes of her preferred brand. After the voucher, she pays $9 out-of-pocket.

On Monday, Eddy was the first official graduate of the program. Daiden, now 11 months old, is a healthy, vibrant baby boy with piercing eyes who has never been sick a day of his short life, something that Eddy credits the program with.

According to Riely, the reason mothers in the program are required to come in after the fourth visit, as well as after the birth, is that while the expectant mothers want to quit on the behalf of their unborn children, they may have a relapse once they give birth. While Eddy quit smoking cold turkey – without the help of a cessation aid – Riely said that nicotine gum or lozenges to help ween mothers off smoking can be used. If these aids are approved by the mother’s doctor, vouchers for these aids are given to the mother from the First District Health Unit. A grant from the North Dakota Department of Health funds the Baby & Me program, plus the vouchers for cessation aids, said Renae Byre, a tobacco cessation counselor with First District.

So far, about 45 to 50 women have signed up for the program since it started up last year. Currently, there are about 25 enrolled, Riely said. Others come in and they drop out, “because it’s a strong addiction,” she added.

According to statistics from North Dakota Vital Records, 17 percent of pregnant women in North Dakota were smoking in 2009. Riely believes that number might have increased, not only due to the boost in population, but that pregnant women who smoke may lie and say they don’t to avoid the shame or stigma.

New research has revealed that one in five women in regional Western Australia smoke during pregnancy, despite public health warnings. Statistics from the Midwives Birth Notification Database show more than 20,000 regional women gave birth between 2008 and 2010 and nearly 4,500 smoked while pregnant.

Kate Gatti from the WA Country Health Service says research shows smoking while pregnant increases a baby’s risk of poor health.

“Smoking during pregnancy can cause an unhealthy birth weight, usually a low birth weight, there’s a higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, there’s certainly a higher risk to premature labour and miscarriage and a number of other pregnancy complications and of course there’s a risk to the mother’s health as well,” she said.

Prospective mums who use nicotine gum and patches to quit smoking are actually subjecting their unborn babies to risk, claim scientists. The research, which was conducted by American scientists, has revealed that the foetus is highly sensitive to addictive substances; it easily absorbs them, which can make the babies more prone to heart problems and high blood pressure issues later in their life. Nicotine gums and patches, also known as general smoking cessation products, are used worldwide by smokers to help quit their habit.

Scientists have found that the chemicals used in these nicotine products, which are known as reactive oxygen species, permanently rupture the blood vessels so they are not able to function properly, which can result in heart problems and high blood pressure levels.

Women who smoke are advised to give up smoking, at least during pregnancy, as the cigarettes impairs the baby by increasing the risk of cot death, premature birth, illnesses and deformities in childhood.

US scientists have also discovered that Nicotine can severely alter the walls of infant’s blood vessels while they are still in the womb, which will then stay as such forever. This can cause high blood pressure in adults, declare experts in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

The reports are expected to create fair bit of awareness among “mums-to-be”, which will help their babies live a health life.

A new report published in Neurology identifies a biomarker that may assist in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers studied nearly 60 individuals with mild cognitive impairment, finding that measuring the tau protein in the cerebrospinal fluid in combination with the persons age was approx. 80% accurate in predicting who would develop Alzheimer’s disease.

From Australia – Smoking while pregnant may lower good cholesterol levels in the child, according to a report published in European Heart Journal. Studying over 400 children since birth, researchers found that by age 8, children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy had noticeably lower HDL cholesterol levels than children whose mothers did not smoke during pregnancy.

And finally, from California – A new report published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions examines the safety of angioplasty with stents in low risk heart patients. Researchers studied over 200 patients with left main coronary artery disease but with normal artery function. Results showed that stenting had favourable outcomes in these patients in reducing their risk of cardiac death.

PREGNANT women who smoke are the target of a new advertising campaign that warns their habit increases the risk of birth defects and sudden infant death syndrome. In a hard-hitting advertising campaign to be launched today, expectant mums will be warned that “when you smoke she gets less oxygen”. It warns premature birth, ectopic pregnancy, low birth weight and cleft palates are among the risks they are exposing their unborn child to if they don’t quit.

The campaign is backed by surprising statistics that reveal 40 per cent of teenage mums in Australia are also smokers and 15 per cent of all women keep smoking while pregnant.

“It’s a really serious problem,” Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon told The Sunday Telegraph. “I’m not sure the message has reached all mothers about the dangers of smoking while you are pregnant.
“It is difficult for many people to quit. So we want to provide the help, but we also want to make sure the information is there. We do often find looking after a new baby that’s growing inside you is a good motivator to quit.”

Australia’s Next Top Model runner up Cassi Van Den Dungen, 18, who is pregnant to her bricklayer boyfriend Brad Saul, 27, was among those trying to kick the habit.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t give up cold turkey, as apparently that puts the baby under more stress, so I cut down a lot,” she told OK! magazine last month.

“I was smoking a pack a day and now I might have a drag now and then, but that’s it.”

Ms Roxon said she wasn’t about to give any advice on whether Ms Van Den Dungen’s doctor was right about the risks of going cold turkey. “Look, I am not a doctor and I would always advise people to talk to the GP,” she said.

“There are supported programs through Quitline. Many people can go cold turkey if they have their families and a health professional supporting them.

“But also using patches is a method they can take.”I would advise everyone to discuss those options with their doctor because doing that while you are pregnant needs to be managed carefully.”

Ms Roxon said people generally know that smoking is bad for them.

“Whether they have looked through all the consequences, particularly for a foetus, this campaign makes it very clear,” she said.

“If you ever needed encouragement to quit, becoming pregnant is absolutely one of those life-changing events.

“And there are plenty of people to help a mother to quit if they want to.”

New University of Otago, Christchurch, research has identified common factors in the serious childhood behavioural conditions, Conduct Disorder (CD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), including maternal smoking during pregnancy and exposure to family violence. The study examined the influence of a number of common childhood social and environmental factors which contribute to the development of CD and ODD.

It found the two disorders had several factors in common:
low family socioeconomic status;
family instability;
childhood exposure to physical abuse, sexual abuse or interparental violence;
maternal smoking during pregnancy;
child IQ;
and affiliation with deviant (delinquent and substance using) peers.

CD and ODD are behaviour disorders which emerge in childhood and have been shown to have adverse effects on mental health and psychosocial adjustment in adolescence and early adulthood.

“During the past 30 days, how many cigarettes do you usually smoke each day…still 10?” asks research assistant, Adrienne Duckworth. Duckworth is doing one of her many phone call surveys; talking to pregnant women in West Virginia, who continue to smoke. “Are you seriously thinking about quitting smoking during this pregnancy?” she asked. This is part of a study, headed by Dr. Ilana Chertok, who specializes in maternal infant health.

“The aim of study is to educate women who are pregnant and smoking to stop or at least cut down,” said Chertok.

For the next eight months, Chertok will be working with midwives in Monongalia and Preston counties, who are trained to help the pregnant women decrease or quit the habit completely.

“Many women have tried stopping smoking or reducing smoking in the past,” said Chertok. “But pregnancy is a time of a tremendous motivator for women to make those lifestyle changes. And this is really a great time to capitalize on that motivation.”

Chertok said triggers like stressful jobs, or family members continuing to smoke in the house make it harder for these women to quit.

“Recent divorces, recent job changes, some of them aren’t married, so that adds to the stress of an upcoming baby.”

Between the midwives, doctors, and research assistants, the study has already helped some women cut back.

“Some women smoke up to three packs a day,” said Duckworth. “A lot of the women have already been able to cut down to seven-12 cigarettes a day.”

And Chertok hopes by the end of the study, those numbers will go down even more.

Right now, the study is following 11 women, but they’d like to have a total of 50. If you or someone you know wants to participate, contact the School of Nursing at 304-293-6518.

We’ll follow up with this story in November to see the overall success of the program.

“During the past 30 days, how many cigarettes do you usually smoke each day…still 10?” asks research assistant, Adrienne Duckworth. Duckworth is doing one of her many phone call surveys; talking to pregnant women in West Virginia, who continue to smoke. “Are you seriously thinking about quitting smoking during this pregnancy?” she asked.

This is part of a study, headed by Dr. Ilana Chertok, who specializes in maternal infant health.

“The aim of study is to educate women who are pregnant and smoking to stop or at least cut down,” said Chertok.

For the next eight months, Chertok will be working with midwives in Monongalia and Preston counties, who are trained to help the pregnant women decrease or quit the habit completely.

“Many women have tried stopping smoking or reducing smoking in the past,” said Chertok. “But pregnancy is a time of a tremendous motivator for women to make those lifestyle changes. And this is really a great time to capitalize on that motivation.”

Chertok said triggers like stressful jobs, or family members continuing to smoke in the house make it harder for these women to quit.

“Recent divorces, recent job changes, some of them aren’t married, so that adds to the stress of an upcoming baby.”

Between the midwives, doctors, and research assistants, the study has already helped some women cut back.

“Some women smoke up to three packs a day,” said Duckworth. “A lot of the women have already been able to cut down to seven-12 cigarettes a day.”

And Chertok hopes by the end of the study, those numbers will go down even more.

An awareness campaign will be launched this year in Chatham-Kent targeting smoking during pregnancy. Posters entitled “smoking for two” will be displayed on selected billboards and transit shelter locations and 300 washroom stall locations across the municipality. Jane Reiha, child and youth health promotion program manager for the Chatham-Kent Health Unit, told board members Wednesday that despite recent gains in the reduction of tobacco use, it remains the leading public health problem in Ontario.

“Over 1.6 million Ontarians (17 per cent) still smoke and it’s estimated that approximately 13,000 avoidable premature deaths occur annually due to cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive lung disease,” she said.

According to the Chatham-Kent 2010 Health Status Report, higher rates of tobacco use were evident in Chatham-Kent compared to the rest of Ontario.

About 30 per cent of Chatham-Kent’s adult population were identified as current smokers. Reiha said young adults experienced the highest rates.