Smoking Relapse During Postpartum

PURPOSE: While many women quit smoking when learning of their pregnancy, the majority relapses within one year of giving birth. This paper provides an integrative review of studies that assess the contributing factors to maternal smoking relapse within the first year of giving birth. The framework for this review is the relapse prevention model, which seeks to uncover the contributing factors, or high-risk situations, that lead to relapse. Additionally, this paper examines existing practice interventions aimed at reducing postpartum relapse and provides recommendations for best practice. CONCLUSIONS: Research evidence to date shows that two main factors are associated with smoking relapse among postpartum women: (1) their association with other smokers and (2) their choosing not to breastfeed. Since maternal smoking results in poor health outcomes for both mothers and children, relapse prevention is a health issue worthy of examination. Nurses can use this information in planning, implementing, and evaluating smoking prevention and cessation programs for pregnant and postpartum women.