Mothers' reflections about infant irritability and postpartum tobacco use

Recent research has shown that most women who stop or substantially reduce cigarette smoking during pregnancy return to previous levels of tobacco use soon after delivery. The determinants of postpartum tobacco use have not been adequately identified. To address this gap, the present study examined one potential contributor to postpartum smoking, namely, unexplained infant crying and fussiness. The purpose of this study was to describe mothers' reflections about perceived infant irritability and postpartum tobacco use.

A qualitative descriptive approach was applied to the responses of low-income women who participated in a mixed methods study of smoking relapse among mothers of infants. The subset of mothers for the present study (n = 86) was composed of women who intended to be nonsmokers after delivery. Thematic content analysis was conducted of the texts from their interviews.

Four major themes were identified with respect to perceptions of infant irritability and postpartum tobacco use: not knowing what to do, seeking renewal, seeking relief, and evaluating self.

The reflections of the study participants suggest that the challenges of handling infant irritability often trigger thoughts of smoking or smoking behavior. Health practitioners may strengthen cessation interventions by using strategies to help mothers cope with this experience, which is unique to the first few months after delivery.