Postpartum tobacco use: developing evidence for practice

Abstract

Most women who quit smoking during pregnancy return to tobacco use within 6 months after delivery. Findings demonstrate that minimal intervention effectiveness exists with strategies to prevent postpartum smoking relapse. This article provides a synthesis of current research on postpartum tobacco use. Whether in the labor and delivery suite, the postpartum floor, or the neonatal ICU, acute and critical care nurses have a valuable role to help reduce the incidence of tobacco-related maternal and child outcomes.