Smoking cessation during pregnancy and relapse after childbirth : the impact of the grandmother's smoking status

Objectives Smoking during pregnancy can result in negative effects in exposed children. It is well established that the smoking status of husbands is a majorpredictor of smoking among pregnant women. It was investigated whether the smoking status of the women’s parents and parents-in-law has an impact on smoking cessation during pregnancy and relapse after birth abovethe smoking status of the husband. Method An initial sample of 458 women and their husbands was assessed prospectively during a 17-month period after birth regarding smoking habits. Five months after birth the women and their husbands reported the smoking status of their own parents. Results Smoking during pregnancy was related to the smoking status of the women’s husband and mother. Women with a husband and mother who smoke were more likely to continue smoking. Relapse after smoking cessation during pregnancy was related to the smoking status of the husband and the mother-in-law. The smoking status of the women’s father and father-in-law was not related to smoking cessation or relapse. Conclusion: The smoking status of the pregnant women’s mothers andmothers-in-law is related to fetal and newborn’s nicotine exposure. The findings suggest benefits of taking the smoking status of pregnant women’s mothers and mothers in-law into account in smoking prevention programs for pregnant women and mothers with infants.