Pregnant and giving up smoking, moral support needed!

[littlelady123]

I am pregnant for the 3rd time, and after 2 miscarriages, I wanted to do everything properly which includes giving up my fags. Is anyone else trying to give up? I have been given an inhalator but wanted to try cold turkey. Only finding it difficult!! Anyone have any great tips that worked for them?

[whoops]

I gave up when I was pregnant and the worst thing I found was finding something to do with my hands.
I also found that thinking about my baby was the best reason for giving up

[TillyScoutsmum]

Hi - I'm not pg but had my last fag on Friday. I've tried giving up lots before and have always gone back to it but I'm really determined this time (I gave up for 18 months when pg and bf'ing and then went back to it )

Tips.. Errrr

Have a glass of water everytime you have a craving or clean your teeth

Within 4 days, 90% of the nicotine will have left your body so the physical cravings will be pretty much over by then (you're halfway through ). After that, its just a habit thing and an association thing (i.e. after dinner or with a coffee etc.)

Will think of some more and come back but just need to get dd up from her nap

P.S. I had 2 mc's as well - dd was my third time lucky

[ephrinedaily]

Hi I gave up when pregnant. You can definitely do it, me and my partner were the biggest 30 a day chain smoking haggard old chimneys... It helped that my partner gave up too so if anyone you live with smokes, make them give up or not smoke anywhere near you.I also told all smoking friends not to give me any fags.

I cut down by having my first fag of the day later and later each day. Within three weeks I had cut down to two a day. Then I went on to the chewing gum, first needed about five pieces a day. After a couple of weeks I realised one bedtime that I hadn't had any of the chewing gum all day...nicotine addiction free!

It was a great feeling to be free of the need for a fag all the time actually. Still not smoking. I used to snack on little pieces of fruit instead too, in the evenings which was when I used to smoke the most. If a weak-willed old Dot Cotton like me can do it, you can too!

[littlelady123]

thanks for the suppost and advice guys !! plus Tillyscoutsmum, its nice to see someone that has had the same situation as me, makes me a little more optimistic bout the outcome for this one. i just thought if it had happened twice it would definitely happen again without question.

[charitygirl]

I had two months of not smoking (well, not buying fags anyway - lots of 'party fags')) before I conceived, but my biggest motivator was just the thought of stigma and how I have always gone 'tut' in my head when i saw a pg women smoking.

probably hypocritical of me as i have had a drink or two during this pregnancy, but make being a 'smoking mum to be' the line you won't cross. stigmatise yourself - and get your friends to do the same if you weaken!

[plantsitter]

I stopped 4 months ago when I found out I was pregnant. It sounds silly but the best thing is not stinking of fags! And not having to smoke.

Am drinking all my drinks through a straw which looks a bit childish but is really satisfying for both mouth and fingers.

Think cold turkey is fine if you have really convinced yourself you're giving up. try reading Alan Carr as well. Hope that hepls and good luck - ooh and congratulations!

[ladyhelen2]

I too have had 2 mc's . With pg number 1, I gave up totally at 6 weeks. I had 2 fags a day from finding out I was pg to that day. I regret that now. I wish I had given up the day I got the blue line.
I started again when I mc'd ( stress - its a wonderful but crap at the same time excuse for smoking). We caught again 8 weeks later. Once I got that blue line, I had one final farewell fag and that was it. Till I mc'd again!
What did it was thinking, if I mc again, will it be my fault if I continue smoking. ALthough I did mc again, I know I did what I could to stop it.
Guess what. I've started smoking again, but that blue line when it comes will be motivation enough.
I also have had hypno therapy to stop in the past. It did work for a year! I would recommend it. You clearly want to stop and thats when I think it works - when the motivation is there already.
Good luck.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

I struggled to give up with DD and smoked although not much through most of pregnancy. With DS went to hypnotherapy and 10 months on still not smoking and not even thinking about it. I tried everything else and that is th eonly thing that has worked.

[BlingLovin]

Stopped four years ago. Cold turkey. Hardest thing I've ever done but stuck it out.

My hot tips:

1. Draw up a list of reasons to stop (not quit). Celebrate that those things are no longer happening (in my case, the smell and the fact that men I liked didn't smoke or like it).
2. Sign up to the NHS Stop Smoking website -surprisingly helpful
3. Spend fag money on treats that help you to be distracted. I spent it on nice soaps to enjoy the I-don't-stink-of-fags smell and on luxury imported fruit and cheese to snack on at my desk instead of going for a smoke break
4. Remember that every craving lasts a maximum of 7 minutes. Admittedly, in the beginning, they're 7 minutes back to back, but the gaps between get longer.

And to hopefully make you feel less alone - I actually cried on a crowded train on day three because I felt my friends didn't understand my pain but my cigarettes would. I kid you not.

[littlelady123]

lol to blinglovin! thanks i am doin quite well i think, cravings must b back 2 back lol!! constantly needing one, my partner has taken any fags out of the house so i cant have one anyway lol! but brushing my teeth has worked well 4 some reason

[TillyScoutsmum]

Hello littlelady - how's it going today ?? Its day 6 for me and I promise, it does get easier. I think I'll always miss smoking though and I just have to accept that it is a sacrifice to stop - but its a sacrifice worth making. I also considered how many cigarettes I actually enjoyed during the day and it was probably only 4 or 5 (after meals, when dd went to bed etc.), the rest of them were purely habit. So, then I thought it if takes 2 mins to smoke a cig and only 5 a day were enjoyable - I was putting myself at risk of cancer and lots of other nasties and making myself smell and spending a fortune all for the sake of a total of 10 minutes enjoyment a day ...

Sort of put it into perspective for me

[littlelady123]

i'm doin alrite tillyscoutsmum thanx, i decided to do it without the aid of the nicorette inhalatorave given into temptation twice i'm afraid ! but as from now there will be no possible way tht i will b able to have a fag because my partner is going to get rid of them all. i have realised how much it stinks now though and each fag i gave into i only have had a few drags of because it tastes horrible!!