What is the Best Way to Quit?

There is not just one way to quit and you will find the way that works just right for you. One thing that most successful quitters have in common is getting help that is proven to work. Setting a quit date, letting people know how to support your plan, and learning to new ways to deal with stress and manage nicotine cravings are important steps in quitting.

Getting counseling from a professional who specialized in quitting smoking can increase your chances of quitting by nearly 50%. Some people use quit medications, like nicotine patches, gum or lozenges, to stop smoking during pregnancy. If you want to use a quit medication, talk to your doctor about whether medications fit in your quit plan.

How Does the Quitline Help?

The Quitline has a free program for people who want to quit tobacco when they are pregnant. When you enroll in the Quitline, you will work with the same Coach for all of your appointments. 

During pregnancy, your Coach will help you design your personal quit plan, provide you helpful tools and talk about tips for staying tobacco-free. You can receive up to five coaching calls during pregnancy. After each call, you will receive a gift card in the mail to help with pregnancy and postpartum expenses.

If your doctor approves, you may also be eligible for free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges.

Around your due date, your Coach will reach out to schedule you to re-start the program after you deliver your baby. You can receive up to four coaching calls after you give birth.

More than 50-75% of people who enroll and complete both the pregnancy and postpartum programs are able to stay quit long term. Your chances of quitting and staying quit increase with each coaching call that you complete.

You can quit and we can help!

Why is Quitting Important?

There are many benefits from quitting tobacco while pregnant, both for you and for your baby. Quitting smoking increases your chances of starting a health pregnancy and can have long lasting health effects on your child well after birth. These effects include:

• Easier to become pregnant. Women have lower fertility when they smoke, and even IVF is less likely to work. The good news? After quitting, fertility is the same as for women who didn’t smoke cigarettes!
• Lower risks for ectopic pregnancy. Smoking makes the fertilized egg more likely to implant before it reaches the uterus. Ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening if not addressed early. Women who quit smoking can reduce their risk of ectopic pregnancy to the same level as women who never smoked.
• Decreased risk for miscarriage. Women who smoke have higher rates of miscarriages. There are many reasons for miscarriage, and smoking can be an underlying cause.
• Babies born with health birth weight and full term. Tobacco smoke in blood means the baby gets less of the oxygen it needs to grow. There are also more than 7000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, and many cross the placenta. Quitting any time during pregnancy, and especially in the first trimester, can reverse the effect of smoking on birthweight and help deliver a full term baby.
• Lower rates of stillbirth and infant death. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of stillbirth and infant death. About 20% of all Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) deaths are caused by smoking. Research shows that quitting smoking reduces the risk of stillbirth and other infant deaths caused by smoking.
• Healthy baby development. The chemicals in tobacco smoke cause cleft lip and cleft palate. It also affects the development of your baby’s heart and lungs. Quitting smoking helps provide the best environment for your baby to develop.
• Healthy child development. Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy and postpartum are more likely to have learning problems and behavioral problems, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Quitting during pregnancy and staying quit postpartum helps your child have the healthy childhood.

  
  Important factors to consider

  Finding out you are pregnant is both exciting and stressful. You already know it is important to quit for you and your baby, and you may also feel like there are big challenges to quitting.