In 2005 South Shore Health received funding from Health Canada for a 3 year project to use ‘better practices’ information to establish a comprehensive and coordinated approach to prenatal and postpartum tobacco use.  The objectives of the project are:

1. Identify and establish partnerships with key individuals and organizations that provide supports to pregnant and postpartum women.
2. Share better practice information on pregnancy and tobacco use with health professionals and health intermediaries in DHA 1, 2, 3.
3. Identify opportunities to incorporate better practices into new and existing programs and services for pregnant and postpartum women.
4. Establish a multi-pronged approach to tobacco cessation for pregnant smokers.
5. Establish a program evaluation for the project.
6. Provide opportunities to share experiences and disseminate findings to practitioners and participants in Nova Scotia.

While the project ended officially on December 30, 2007, work continues in implementing and sustaining a better practice approach.  To find out more, visit:

Tobacco and Pregnancy: Better Practices Toolkit 

Final Report 

Report from Connecting the Dots: Pregnancy and Tobacco: A Provincial Information and Strategy Session

Pregnancy and Tobacco Sharing Network

Pregnancy and Tobacco: Reflections on the Development of a Better Practice Approach in South Shore Health

Using Telehealth to Build Capacity: Twelve Lessons