First Breath

Chippewa County Public Health offers the First Breath program for pregnant women who want to quit smoking. First Breath is Wisconsin's free program to help people make positive changes to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, and other substance use during pregnancy and beyond.

Public Health Nurses are trained to ask, advise, and refer smokers to the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation (WWHF). WWHF Quit Coaches are able to provide smoking cessation counseling.

Smoking During Pregnancy Can Lead to

• Asthma in children
• Future problems in school
• Miscarriage or stillbirth
• Premature birth
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• We know that you want your newborn to be healthy, so we want to help you quit smoking and help reduce the risk of these serious conditions.

Quitting smoking can make a huge difference for your baby. First Breath is available for pregnant and postpartum people and anyone who lives in the home.

For Pregnant & Postpartum People

You can choose to receive:

• Help connect with resources in your community.
• If you use tobacco, you can also receive
  • Carbon monoxide breath tests
  • Gift cards for participating
• Monthly, one-on-one education and support (from pregnancy through six months postpartum) from your Health Educator. You'll get support on things such as:
  • Dealing with triggers
  • Developing new coping skills
  • Goal setting
  • Managing stress
• Text message support with information, tips, and encouragement.

For Caregivers & Family Members

You can choose to receive:

• Help connecting with resources in your community, including a referral to the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line.
• Text message support with information, tips, and encouragement.
• Up to two one-on-one education and counseling sessions.