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Adagio Health launches pilot program to help pregnant & postpartum people quit smoking

“Healthy You, Healthy Baby” program provides free counseling, support and incentives.

Pittsburgh, PA (September 22, 2022) — Adagio Health’s Tobacco Free Adagio Health team has launched a new pilot program designed to help pregnant and postpartum moms and parents quit smoking or vaping. So far, 15 women have signed up for the “Healthy You, Healthy Baby” program that provides them with access to free counseling, support and incentives that include gift cards for diapers, breast pumps, formula, strollers, and other needed baby products. The program was created in collaboration with Breathe PA. 

Pregnant and postpartum participants are supported by a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and have opportunities to attend weekly support groups focused on nutrition, wellness and staying smoke free for life. The women in the program also support each other through this journey toward a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their children. 

“This project’s success is predicated on a parent’s love for their child,” said Casey Monroe, Vice President of Disease Prevention Programs at Adagio Health. “Our clients’ successes are tied to their desire to reduce nicotine and tobacco use to create healthier environments for themselves, their children and their family.”  

According to a study published by the American Medical Association, continued use of tobacco while pregnant was associated with lower brain volume in children 9 to 11 years old. Tobacco exposure while pregnant can also lead to other adverse health outcomes including miscarriage, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), increased number of ear infections and asthma. The “Healthy You, Healthy Baby” program is intended to help expecting moms quit their tobacco use through education, community support and resources that promote healthy living.

Response to the program so far has been very positive, with participants sharing these reactions:

“Previously, I have felt that any kind of counseling I was a part of felt like I was speaking with a robot and there wasn’t anyone that actually cared. With Tobacco Free Adagio Health, I feel like I’m supported, constantly motivated, and I leave the note [the counselor] wrote me on my fridge so I know that someone believes in me.”

“I knew smoking while I was pregnant was dangerous for myself and the baby, but my doctors always told me to quit, they never told me how or what resources were available until my OBGYN recommended Adagio and [explained] how the program worked.”

In addition to offering programs for pregnant and postpartum parents, Tobacco Free Adagio Health offers free counseling, support, and education for adults and teens throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

In collaboration with Jefferson Regional Medical Center, its medical offices, and Dr. Jason Wong – a tobacco cessation champion – Tobacco Free Adagio Health receives referrals from each department of the hospital for patients seeking tobacco cessation services and support. Tobacco Free Adagio Health also works with Allegheny Health Network, UPMC, local health departments, and other providers, businesses, school and partners throughout the southwestern Pennsylvania and Allegheny County region. Services provided are free to smokers and nicotine users who want to quit. 

“Using techniques such as motivational interviewing encourages clients to identify their personal reasons to quit smoking. Whether it be financial or health-related, each client determines their own motivation to kick the habit,” Monroe said.

On average, the overall Tobacco Free Adagio Health program receives 10 referrals a week, with 40% of those referrals enrolling in cessation counseling. Additionally, Tobacco Free Adagio Health hosts monthly tobacco education workshops in the hospital and provides brochures, pamphlets, posters, and contact information on every floor.

Completion of the “Healthy You, Health Baby” program qualifies participants to receive gift cards to “Buy Buy Baby” to support the purchasing of needed items, including strollers and car seats. In-person and virtual coaching sessions are available.

For more information, visit adagiohealth.org/HealthyYouHealthyBaby or call 1-800-215-7494.

About Adagio Health – For more than fifty years, Adagio Health has provided health care, nutrition, and education services in western Pennsylvania. Today, the nonprofit organization’s footprint includes seven counties in West Virginia. Adagio Health’s services include low or no cost family planning and reproductive care for women, men, and teens; screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and other chronic conditions; and adult immunizations including COVID-19, flu, MMR, pneumonia and more. Adagio Health also manages the state-funded Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP) in 62 counties across Pennsylvania. Adagio Health serves thousands of children and families through its WIC and Power Up (SNAP-ed) nutrition programs; provides tobacco cessation services to adults and teens; and offers reproductive health education for teens and young adults. Adagio Health receives funding from the State and Federal government, foundations, individuals and the corporate community.

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