BABY & ME – Tobacco Free™
The goal of BABY & ME – Tobacco Free Program™ is to reduce the number of health problems caused by tobacco use and secondhand smoke by decreasing the number of women who smoke during and after their pregnancy. Health problems for both mothers and babies include:
- Pregnancy complications
- Premature birth
- Low-birth weight infants
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
How the Program Works
Any pregnant woman who is currently a tobacco user, or was using tobacco products three months prior to becoming pregnant, is eligible for the program, regardless of income level.
Women enrolled in the program attend four prenatal sessions, where they receive information on tobacco cessation and take a carbon monoxide (CO) breath test. Program members return for breath tests at monthly post-partum visits for up to six months. If tobacco-free, the program member receives a $50 voucher at each postpartum session for any brand or size of diapers at participating stores.
To enroll, connect with your nearest North Dakota BABY & ME Program provider:
Health System | City | Program Facilitator | Phone Number | |
Altru Health System | Grand Forks | Nicole Brien | (701) 780-5347 | nbrien@Altru.org |
Altru Clinic | Devils Lake | Nicole Brien | (701) 780-5347 | nbrien@Altru.org |
CHI St. Alexius Health | Bismarck | Rajean Backman | (701) 530-8538 | rbackman@primecare.org |
City-County Health District | Valley City | Heather Schwehr | (701) 845-8595 | hschwehr@barnescounty.us |
Essentia Health | Fargo | Cheri Thomson | (701) 364-4524 | Cheri.Thomson@EssentiaHealth.org |
Essentia Health | Wahpeton | Lindsey Bommersbach | (701) 671-4146 | Lindsey.Bommersbach@EssentiaHealth.org |
Family HealthCare | Fargo | Brody Maack | (701) 271-6363 | bmaack@famhealthcare.org |
First District Health Unit | Minot | Bonnie Riely | (701) 837-5171 | bfriely@nd.gov |
Mid Dakota Clinic, Rosser Ave | Bismarck | Marie Jensen | (701) 712-4591 | Marie.Jensen@middakotaclinic.com |
Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Hospital | Belcourt | My-Oanh Nguyen | (701) 477-8426 | My-Oanh.Nguyen@ihs.gov |
Sanford Bismarck | Bismarck | Teresa Kershaw | (701) 323-2016 or 323-2935 |
Teresa.kershaw@sanfordhealth.org |
Sanford Jamestown | Jamestown | Beverly Twedt | (701) 253-4033 | Beverly.Twedt@sanfordhealth.org |
Sanford Medical Center Fargo | Fargo | Siri Thaden | (701) 234-5892 | Siri.Thaden@SanfordHealth.org |
Sanford Clinic Wahpeton | Wahpeton | Nicole Wahler | (701) 642-7000 | Nicole.Wahler@SanfordHealth.org |
Southwestern District Health Unit | Dickinson | Jennifer Schaeffer | (701) 483-3760 | jschaeffer@nd.gov |
Walsh County Health District | Grafton | Sharon Laxdal | (701) 352-5139 | slaxdal@nd.gov |
For more information on the National BABY & ME – Tobacco Free Program™, please visit www.babyandmetobaccofree.org. Free nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges are available to qualified enrollees with doctor approval. A specially trained quit coach will be dedicated to helping you all the way.