Tobacco Cessation Services Now Provided at Licking Memorial Women's Health
Licking Memorial Women’s Health in Newark has added a new service to help pregnant patients improve the health of their newborn babies. Now, expectant mothers who smoke or use other forms of tobacco can visit their obstetrician/gynecologist and receive free tobacco cessation services during the same visit.
Women who smoke during pregnancy are at increased risk of developing placenta previa (a condition that can cause severe bleeding) and have less oxygen available for the unborn baby's development in the placenta. Additionally, the unborn baby has elevated risk of:
- Low birth weight
- Premature birth
- Stillbirth
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Childhood cancers
- Cleft palate and cleft lip
- Respiratory problems
“Unfortunately, 24 percent of our obstetrics patients smoke cigarettes,” stated Obstetrician/Gynecologist Ngozi V. Ibe, M.D. “As physicians, we educate our patients about the dangerous effects that nicotine has on unborn babies. However, nicotine is very addictive, and many women cannot kick the smoking habit on their own, no matter how much they love their babies. We welcome the addition of the Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Quit for Your Health services here at the Women’s Health practice, because they have specially trained tobacco cessation counselors, educational tools and nicotine replacement products that have a very good rate of success. We want to provide our patients with all the encouragement we can to quit smoking for their own health, and for the health of their babies.”
Dr. Ibe added, “Some patients told us in the past that they had good intentions to quit smoking during their pregnancies, but for one reason or another, it was difficult for them to find the time to visit the Quit for Your Health counselors at their primary location next to the Hospital. We are excited that LMH is making tobacco cessation services as convenient as possible for our patients.”
LMH’s Quit for Your Health program was first established in 2009, after funding for a statewide tobacco prevention program was eliminated. LMH recognized the importance of continuing an anti-tobacco program to lower the high rate of tobacco use in Licking County. In addition to the new Women’s Health location, the primary Quit for Your Health office is located at 1272 W. Main Street, Building 2, in Newark.
LMH’s two Quit for Your Health counselors, Melissa Phillips, R.N., and Katie Seward, M.P.H., CHES, are both trained in tobacco cessation education. Their services are free of charge to Licking County residents who use any form of tobacco. Appointments can be made by calling (220) 564-7848.
| Posted On : 3/17/2014 12:48:40 PM