Pregnant mothers can now trade in their cigarettes for free diapers in Kansas City, Kansas.
The program called, “Baby & Me Tobacco Free” was launched by the Unified Government Public Health Department on September 1 in hopes to support mothers and their families attempting to stop smoking.
Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and Kansas. According to the Unified Government Public Health Department, Wyandotte County’s smoking rate is higher than national and state averages: 25.6% of adults smoke, including 10.7% of pregnant women.
The Wyandotte County Fetal Infant Mortality Review Team (FIMR) and the Tobacco Free Wyandotte Action Team (TFW) has seen first hand how smoking can increase the chances of premature labor, birth defects and fetal death.
The program will host series of education sessions for expectant mothers relating to smoking, the tobacco industry, and support for quitting every Thursday at the heath department at 3 p.m.
All sessions will include a carbon monoxide reading so that mothers can see the positive effects of their quit attempt in real time. For up to a year after delivery, families can also come back to the health department every month for a diaper voucher, as long as they stay smoke-free. In addition, health department staff will be a source of support as long as the family is involved with the program.
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