Newborns Asthma and Parental Smoking (NAPS) Project ‘Care for my air!’

It is important for parents to recognise tobacco smoke as a major trigger for asthma. Not only can exposure to tobacco smoke act as a trigger, but it has also been found to increase the risk of a child developing asthma. A child will be at an increased risk of developing asthma if a mother smokes during her pregnancy or if a newborn is exposed to passive smoke.

The Newborns Asthma and Parental Smoking (NAPS) Project promotes the health message ‘Care for my air!’ and encourages pregnant women, new mothers and their families to protect the foetus and newborn from passive smoke.

‘Care for my air!’ means exposure to tobacco smoke whilst pregnant (or as an infant) can increase the risk of asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the baby being born an unhealthy birth weight.

History of the NAPS Project
The NAPS Project - Phase IV is a 2 year, state-wide health promotion project (March 2005 - March 2007) managed by the Asthma Foundation of WA and funded by Healthway. The NAPS Project also receives corporate sponsorship from Coles Baby under the Coles Cares brand for the production of the ‘Care for my air!’ pack resource distributed to pregnant women across Western Australia.

Although the current funding period extends from March 2005 to March 2007, the project began in October 1998. The 18-month pilot was implemented in the Swan Health Service area and was designed to trial various strategies for providing ante-natal information to women on the dangers of passive smoking to the foetus and to infant health.

It is now offered to maternity hospitals and health services all over the state. The project has its own website that includes information on passive smoking, pregnancy, asthma and ideas on creating a smoke free environment for your baby.

The Asthma Foundation of WA also has a number of project resources available for expectant parents, parents of young children, and health professionals. The ‘Care for my air!’ pack includes all the information needed to provide your child with a great start to life. You can order a FREE ‘Care for my air!’ pack online! Visit the NAPS website at:

www.smokefreebaby.org.au.

As well as this, the project has a large Indigenous component which looks at ways to promote the ‘Care for my air!’ message to Aboriginal women who are pregnant. In conjunction with the Kulunga Research Network and the NAPS Aboriginal Reference Group, a number of Aboriginal resources have been developed. These resources will be further developed and disseminated as part of the NAPS Indigenous Women’s Project, funded by the Office of Aboriginal Health. For further information about the Indigenous Women’s Project and the resources, please visit the NAPS website at www.smokefreebaby.org.au.

Smoking and Pregnancy
Smoking during pregnancy makes it harder for the baby to get the oxygen and nourishment he or she needs and places unnecessary stress on the baby’s heart. Every puff a pregnant woman takes on a cigarette increases the level of carbon monoxide in her bloodstream, which replaces oxygen in her blood, so the amount of oxygen available for the baby through the umbilical cord is reduced. Nicotine also causes a reduction in the baby’s “practice” breathing movements in the womb.

When a pregnant woman smokes, her baby is being exposed to the same high level of poisons as she is. Once the baby is born, he or she can also suffer when other people smoke around them. This is known as passive smoking. The level of poisons found in an unborn baby whose mother smokes is over 100 times greater than the level of poisons found in a young baby exposed to passive smoking!

It is also harmful if a father smokes around a mother and may increase the risk of a baby being born with a lower birth weight. The more the father smokes, the more chance there is of the unborn baby having poor health outcomes.

Passive Smoking & Children
Young children have delicate lungs that are more easily affected by the chemicals in tobacco smoke. If exposed to passive smoking, children are more likely to develop sensitive airways, and are more susceptible to health problems.

Some simple steps to ‘Care for your baby’s air’

• Make your home smoke-free
• Place smoke-free stickers in your home, your car, or your baby’s pram
• Provide ashtrays outdoors for visitors or family members who smoke
• 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 QUIT Line on 131 848 or 1800 198 024)
• If you don’t feel ready to quit, try to cut down.

Assertive Ways to Say “Please Don’t Smoke!”
Many people feel uncomfortable when they ask someone to refrain from smoking around them or their child. The following phrases give a few tips on how to be assertive in a variety of situations. Whilst they may not always be successful, it is better to ask, than to remain quiet and expose yourself and your child to unwanted cigarette smoke.

When you’re pregnant
“Would you mind not smoking for the short time I’m here - I’m sensitive to smoke and I’m pregnant.”

“Would you mind not smoking while I’m here, I’m pregnant and am trying hard to avoid exposing my baby to tobacco smoke as much as possible.”

When visitors arrive and would like to smoke
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t smoke inside. Our home is smoke-free. I have some ashtrays in our outdoor area if you would like to smoke outside.”

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

Visiting a place where there are people smoking
“Would you mind not smoking while my baby and I are here. His/her lungs are extremely sensitive and are still developing.”

Find out more!
If you would like additional information regarding the Newborns Asthma and Parental Smoking (NAPS) Project, or if you are employed by a hospital or health service and would like to participate in the project, please visit the NAPS Project at:

www.smokefreebaby.org.au

Asthma Foundation of WA
Phone 08 9289 3641
Fax 08 9289 3601.
ask@asthmawa.org.au

NAPS receives corporate sponsorship from:

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