Newfoundland and Labrador Smokers’ Helpline

Newfoundland and Labrador
Smokers’ Helpline

1-800-363-5864

helping women live smoke-free

Helping Women Live Smoke-Free Initiative

The Helping Women Live Smoke-Free Initiative supports Family Resource Centers (Healthy Baby Clubs) to address tobacco use with pregnant and post-partum women. It focuses on screening for tobacco use, and initiating a conversation with women about smoking. It provides information about health effects, identifies challenges women may face, looks at different ways to quit, shares community supports, explores ways to support women to reduce or quit smoking and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, and provides resources.

Screen for Tobacco Use

Many women are more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy than at any other time in their lives, however some women will start smoking again soon after the baby is born.  Screening for tobacco use takes just a few minutes.

This flowchart is a simple way to start the conversation.

This flowchart is a simple way to start the conversation.

Talk with Women about Tobacco Use

You care about the health and wellbeing of the pregnant mother, her baby and family. You don’t have to be an expert or a quit smoking counsellor to help women to smoke less, quit smoking or stay smoke free. Having the conversation about smoking will show the woman that you are concerned about her smoking and the risks for her and her baby and are able to support her when she is ready to take action.

This booklet, developed using the 5 A’s (Ask, Advise, Assist, Assess and Arrange) approach to quitting, will help you to begin the conversation with a pregnant woman towards making changes to her smoking and guide and support her progress.

This booklet, developed using the 5 A’s (Ask, Advise, Assist, Assess and Arrange) approach to quitting, will help you to begin the conversation with a pregnant woman towards making changes to her smoking and guide and support her progress.

This video is for new and future parents and for everyone who shares their environment with children, even occasionally.  The purpose of the video is to discuss the impact of second-hand smoke on young families and to explore strategies for helping to reduce or eliminate this impact.

This video is for new and future parents and for everyone who shares their environment with children, even occasionally.  The purpose of the video is to discuss the impact of second-hand smoke on young families and to explore strategies for helping to reduce or eliminate this impact.

This handout contains key health messages about smoking to share with women and their families.

This handout contains key health messages about smoking to share with women and their families.

Creating a Supportive Environment

Quitting is a process, not an event. When resources and information are available, both participants and staff are supported in becoming more comfortable talking about smoking. The resources below will help you create an environment where women are supported when they are ready to make a change toward healthy living.

This infographic highlights the things your Family Resource Centre (FRC) can do to create an environment that supports smoke-free living.

This infographic highlights the things your Family Resource Centre (FRC) can do to create an environment that supports smoke-free living.

Wallet-sized cards that can be provided to women for follow-up support.

Wallet-sized cards that can be provided to women for follow-up support.

Use this poster series to increase awareness about living smoke-free, quitting smoking and reducing second-hand smoke.

Use this poster series to increase awareness about living smoke-free, quitting smoking and reducing second-hand smoke.

This booklet, developed using the 5 A’s (Ask, Advise, Assist, Assess and Arrange) approach to quitting, will help you to begin the conversation with a pregnant woman towards making changes to her smoking and guide and support her progress.

This booklet, developed using the 5 A’s (Ask, Advise, Assist, Assess and Arrange) approach to quitting, will help you to begin the conversation with a pregnant woman towards making changes to her smoking and guide and support her progress.

The Provincial Smoking Cessation Program aims to improve access to quit smoking medications and nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) by contributing to the cost of these products for individuals who are eligible under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP) Access, Foundation and 65+ Plans. Women should consult their healthcare provider for information about using NRTs during pregnancy.

The Provincial Smoking Cessation Program aims to improve access to quit smoking medications and nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) by contributing to the cost of these products for individuals who are eligible under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP) Access, Foundation and 65+ Plans. Women should consult their healthcare provider for information about using NRTs during pregnancy.

This handout provides facts about the harmful effects second-hand smoke and suggest ways to create a smoke free environment.

This handout provides facts about the harmful effects second-hand smoke and suggest ways to create a smoke free environment.

This guide helps partners use social media to support and promote tobacco-free living with pregnant and postpartum women.

This guide helps partners use social media to support and promote tobacco-free living with pregnant and postpartum women.

For information about the Helping Women Live Smoke-Free Initiative, please contact your Regional Health Authority:

Eastern Health
(709)752-4142

Central Health
(709)489-4426

Western Health
(709)784-5355

Labrador-Grenfell Health
(709)454-0346

This initiative is a partnership between the Department of Children’s, Seniors and Social Development, 
NL Regional Health Authorities, NL Smokers’ Helpline and Alliance for the Control of Tobacco.