Originally published May 8, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 8, 2008 at 5:46 PM

Free help quitting for expectant women who smoke

The Washington State Health Department has beefed up its free Tobacco Quit Line with targeted help for expectant mothers.

By Seattle Times staff

OLYMPIA — Expectant mothers who smoke jeopardize not only their health, but that of their fetuses; smoking during pregnancy raises the risk of everything from spontaneous abortions to birth defects.

Yet about 12 percent of U.S. women smoke while expecting; in Washington, that's nearly 9,000 women each year.

To give these women an extra push to quit, the Washington State Health Department has beefed up its free Tobacco Quit Line with targeted help for mothers-to-be.

Callers will get individual coaching on how to quit, and those who need nicotine-replacement medications can get them free.

The goal is to keep the women from lighting up even after delivery to protect children from respiratory illnesses, infections, fires and other hazards of second-hand smoking.

Contact the Quit Line at 800-QUIT-NOW or 1-877-2NO-FUME in Spanish, or go to www.quitline.com.

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