March of Dimes and Tobacco-Free Living Join Forces to Reduce Pre-term Birth Resulting from Smoking

For immediate release
Media Contact:
Jason Melancon, TFL
504.301.9841 or jmelancon@lphi.org

Amy B. Ferguson, Keating Magee
504.299.7175 or amyf@keatingmagee.com

MARCH OF DIMES AND TOBACCO-FREE LIVING JOIN FORCES TO REDUCE PRE-TERM BIRTH RESULTING FROM SMOKING

More than 6,700 low birth weight babies born across Louisiana each year – smoking during pregnancy and secondhand smoke exposure direct causes

RUSTON, LA, APRIL 14, 2005—This month, residents across our area will join forces to help reduce the number of babies born too soon and too small in Louisiana by participating in WalkAmerica, an April 16, 2005 walk to support the March of Dimes’ fight against preterm birth. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are known contributors to prematurity and low birth weight – both of which yield small, fragile babies at risk of dying in their first year of life and very likely to experience health and developmental problems later on.

“As sponsors of Walk America, we want families to know the risks associated with smoking and secondhand smoke during pregnancy,” explains Jackie Greggs Walden, Northeast Louisiana regional coordinator for the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL). “Secondhand smoke can compromise an otherwise healthy pregnancy. And smoking during pregnancy is a known cause of low birth weight, which endangers a baby’s chances of growing and developing normally.”

TFL offers these recommendations for pregnant women and their families:

.If you are a smoker and are pregnant, try to quit. The
1-800-LUNG-USA quitline and 1-800-251-BABY helpline can help direct you to smoking cessation services.

.If you are pregnant and someone else in your household or family
smokes, ask them not to smoke around you. Secondhand smoke is a known contributor to many complications during pregnancy.

.If you have trouble quitting, at least cut back. This does not eliminate
your baby’s risks of being born too early or too small, but can reduce them somewhat.

.Remember that quitting smoking during pregnancy is not enough.

Staying quit after the baby is born is also important. Secondhand smoke is also a known risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as SIDS or “crib death.” Don’t let anyone smoke around your baby.

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living provides statewide coordination of existing tobacco control initiatives, funds innovative community programming for tobacco control, and develops statewide media campaigns to help reduce the excessive burden of tobacco use on the state’s resources and improve Louisiana’s overall health and quality of life.

Tobacco Fact: Exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy causes low birthweight. Low birthweight babies tend to be very sick, small and fragile.

This puts them in danger of dying before their first birthday and having health problems later in life.