Did you know smoking is a leading preventable cause of premature birth and infant mortality? First Breath is a WWHF program which helps women quit smoking. Across the state, we are working hard to provide evidence-based cessation counseling and motivational interviewing to support women in their quit attempts. As a result, there are women and family members across Wisconsin who have successfully kicked the habit. By sharing the experiences of individuals who have successfully completed the program, we hope to inspire other moms-to-be to who would like to or are trying to quit smoking.
Two of our newest First Breath success stories are Kay & David of Couderay, WI and Pam from La Crosse, WI.
When asked how they started smoking and why they decided to quit:
Kay – Started smoking when her grandmother died as a way to fill “a void of loss.” She decided to quit, because she knew she was going to be in the hospital for four days with a scheduled C-section and wouldn’t have access to cigarettes. “If I was going to quit, it was going to be those four days to help me through it.”
David – Started smoking at the age of nine after his uncle offered him his first cigarette.
Pam – Started smoking at age 12 after getting into the wrong crowd. She decided to stop for her health and for the health of her kids.
On working with First Breath and now being smoke-free:
David – When you have positive reinforcement, it makes a big difference! “They’re trained professionals. They know what they’re saying and what they’re doing… if you give them the chance to help you”.
Pam – “Knowing I had encouragement really helps. I love getting the text messages . They just make me smile. This baby will have a better chance of developing everything correctly”.
To hear more about these First Breath Participants, how they quit smoking, and their advice to others who are trying to quit, check out their videos on the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation YouTube page.
(David & Kay) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdIfCE6f7dw
(Pam) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpBAbQacQkQ
