Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Newborns Asthma and Parental Smoking (NAPS) Project?
The Newborns Asthma and Parental Smoking Project is a Healthway funded project that promotes the health message “Care for my Air!”. The project encourages pregnant women and new mothers to protect the foetus and newborn from environmental tobacco smoke to reduce their chances of developing asthma

What does ‘Care for my air!’ mean?
The ‘Care for my air!’ slogan aims to encourage pregnant women and new mothers to protect the foetus and newborn from environmental tobacco smoke to reduce their chance of developing asthma.

What services can I access to help quit?
For help with quitting:

Call the Quitline on 131 848 for a free quit kit or for free advice from trained counsellors, 24 hours a day (country callers can call toll free 1800 198 024)

Ask your midwife, GP, or community health nurse for advice.

How can I encourage others to refrain from smoking around me when I’m pregnant?
Many people feel uncomfortable when they ask someone to refrain from smoking around them or their child.

If you are pregnant some phrases that may be useful are:
“Would you mind not smoking for the short time I’m here – I’m sensitive to smoke and I’m pregnant.”

“Thanks for not smoking inside. I have some ashtrays in out outdoor area if you would like to smoke outside.”

“Would you mind not smoking while my baby and I am here. His/her lungs are extremely sensitive and are still developing.”

What are the chances of my child developing asthma?
1 in 4 children under the age 5 have asthma.

Newborns exposed to tobacco smoke are 1.5 - 2 times more likely to suffer from asthma compared to children who are not. By not smoking when you are pregnant and maintaining a smoke free environment for your chid you can reduce the risks of your child developing asthma.

What are the chances of my child developing asthma if I smoke?
Parental (especially maternal) smoking is a major causative factor of wheezing in infancy. Smoking in pregnancy increases three – fold the risk of wheezing in infancy. Continued postnatal passive exposure to cigarette smoke is also harmful and increases early life respiratory infection, risk of hospital admission and risk of asthma.

Where can I get more information from?
More information is available by contacting:

The Asthma Foundation of Western Australia
36 Ord Street West Perth WA 6005
PO Box 864, West Perth 6872
Ph: 08 9289 3600
Fax: 08 9289 3601
Country callers FREECALL: 1800 645 130.

ask@smokefreebaby.org.au

What is passive smoking?
The unborn child is passive smoking when the mother is a smoker or is exposed to smoke. This is because the baby receives tobacco by-products though the mother’s bloodstream.

These by-products include nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine increases the baby’s heart rate and the carbon monoxide takes the place of the oxygen in the blood, leaving less oxygen for the baby.

What are the risks to my baby if I continue to smoke?
If a pregnant woman smokes or is exposed to tobacco smoke, there is an increased risk of:
· Asthma
· Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
· Unhealthy birth weight
· Miscarriage or premature labour
· Perinatal mortality
· Higher risk of difficult pregnancies and births
· Higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Does smoking cause asthma?
Cigarette smoke is a major trigger for asthma. This is especially important for parents of children with asthma. The risk of developing asthma is markedly increased if a mother smokes during her pregnancy or if a newborn is exposed to tobacco smoke. Therefore, it is very important not to smoke during pregnancy, avoid second hand smoke during pregnancy, and avoid exposing your newborn to cigarette smoke.

Does my partner’s smoking harm my baby?
A pregnant woman provides all the food a baby needs during the pregnancy. Everything she eats, drinks and breathes, including tobacco smoke, affects her and the baby.
The more time a pregnant woman spends with a smoker, the more smoke she inhales. The baby is not protected from smoke in the mother’s womb.

Can passive smoke harm my baby?
Newborns and children that are exposed to passive smoke are more likely to suffer from:
· Asthma
· Respiratory infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchiolitis
· Chest tightening and wheezing in children who have asthma
· Sudden Infant Death Sydrome (SIDS)
· Sore and watery eyes
· Sneezing and Coughing
· Ear infections
· Tonsillitis and sinusitis.

What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. This inflammation causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing particularly at night or in the early morning.

What triggers asthma symptoms?
Once someone has asthma, symptoms are set off or made worse by "triggers". These can include:
· cigarette smoke
· colds and flu
· exercise
· inhaled allergens - e.g. pollens, moulds, animal hair and dust mite
· changes in temperature and weather
· chemicals and strong smells
· some foods and food preservatives, flavourings and colourings
· certain drugs (e.g. aspirin)
However, often we don’t know what triggers an episode of asthma.
It is recommended that wherever possible, known triggers should be avoided.
For more information on asthma triggers visit the Asthma Foundation of WA’s website at http://www.asthmawa.org.au

How can I create a smoke free environment for my baby?
· Make your car smoke-free, opening the windows will not protect your baby.
· Remove all ashtrays and the cigarette lighter from the car
· Use non-smoking stickers to inform others that your home and car are smoke-free. Place one on your car dashboard or bumper and/or on the front door or window of your house
· Remove all ashtrays from inside your home
· Visit smoke free venues and congratulate these venues for being smoke free
· Don’t be afraid to ask people not to smoke near you or your child
· If you are a smoker, think about quitting (call the Quitline on 131 848 or toll free for country callers 1800 198 024)
· If you have another young child, place a no-smoking sticker on your pram.