SmokeFree Wisconsin Encourages Wisconsinites to Celebrate New Year's in September Reason # 6

As part of SmokeFree Wisconsin’s countdown to September 1st’s increase in the cigarette and tobacco taxes we are highlighting a reason to use September 1st as an opportunity to quit smoking and using tobacco and informing Wisconsinites of a resource that is available to assist them in their resolution to quit.

Today’s reason and resource are:

REASON #6: SMOKING IS THE SINGLE MOST PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF ILLNESS AND DEATH AMONG MOTHERS AND INFANTS

Historically, Wisconsin has had one of the highest rates of smoking among pregnant women in the nation (16.5 percent Wisconsin pregnant smokers compared to 12 percent nationally.) Pregnant mothers who use tobacco are putting their unborn child at risk for lower birth weight, preterm birth, slowed or reduced physical growth and a higher risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.


RESOURCE # 6—SMOKEFREE WOMEN: HELPING WOMEN QUIT SMOKING

Smokefree.gov has a specific website link devoted to helping women quit smoking. The Smokefree Women website includes a variety of interactive tools to help you quit smoking. Among the suggested tools are: join Smokefree Women on Facebook for support, take a quiz to learn more about why you smoke, put a stop to “smoky thinking”, discover your reasons for quitting, using the craving journal, and becoming aware of your smoking triggers. There is also a link for pregnant women who need to quit smoking to improve the health of the mother as well as the baby.

To learn more about how women can get help quitting smoking, please go to: http://women.smokefree.gov/tools.aspx

For more information about how to quit smoking if you’re pregnant, visit:
http://women.smokefree.gov/topic-pregnancy.aspx