Mom who smoked while pregnant speaks of dangers in La Crosse

Amanda Brenden says her smoking played role in baby's health problems

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — An Eau Claire mom who smoked while pregnant is speaking about the dangers in a national campaign.

Amanda Brenden’s daughter was born two months early with a dangerously low birth weight. In her ad produced by the CDC, Brenden says her addiction to smoking played a central role in her baby’s health problems, such as asthma.

Brenden visited Gundersen Health System in La Crosse on Wednesday. She’s traveling and sharing her story with the goal of inspiring people to keep trying to quit smoking.

“This is a real story, this really happened to me, and this can happen to you if you’re pregnant and smoking,” Brenden said.

Brenden said she has received a lot of support from family and friends for sharing her story.

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