Effectiveness of the BabyBreathe intervention for maintaining postpartum smoking cessation: multicentre…

Randomized trialBMJ (Clinical research ed.)· Aug 2026

Effectiveness of the BabyBreathe intervention for maintaining postpartum smoking cessation: multicentre pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Caitlin Notley, Pippa Belderson, Lucy Clark … BabyBreathe site research associates

Maternal-Fetal MedicineRandomized trialTreatment

BabyBreathe did not significantly increase sustained postpartum smoking abstinence at 12 months versus usual care.

Effectiveness of the BabyBreathe intervention for maintaining postpartum smoking cessation: multicentre pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Caitlin Notley … BabyBreathe site research associates

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · Aug 2026

Purpose

To assess the effectiveness of an interpersonal and digital intervention, BabyBreathe, for maintaining postpartum smoking cessation.

Methods

Community health visiting services in the UK.

n = 887 participants

Results

of women in the BabyBreathe arm stayed quit at 12 months, not significantly more than usual care

aOR 1.36 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.81)

null 1

1.02

1.81

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

A post hoc per protocol analysis favoured the intervention (BabyBreathe 200/347 (57.6%) v usual care 222/445 (49.9%); adjusted odds ratio 1.36, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.81, P=0.04), risk difference 7.2% (0.3% to 14.1%), and NNT 13.9 (7.1 to 333.3).

No trial related adverse incidents occurred.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 3

BabyBreathe did not statistically significantly increase sustained smoking abstinence post partum for people who quit smoking in pregnancy.

Conclusion · 2 of 3

A post hoc per protocol analysis, including only those who received interpersonal support as intended, showed statistically significantly greater benefit from BabyBreathe over usual care.

Conclusion · 3 of 3

A focus on fidelity and further targeting of BabyBreathe to groups with lower socioeconomic status may be warranted.

Effectiveness of the BabyBreathe intervention for maintaining postpartum smoking cessation: multicentre pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Effectiveness of the BabyBreathe intervention for maintaining postpartum smoking cessation: multicentre pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Related papers