to wish my sister would stop smoking

[asouthwoldmummy]

My sister is 28 weeks pregnant (and very noticably so) and still smoking and drinking. She's in her 30's, is in a steady relationship, is well educated and has a good job. She and her DP were TTC so this wasn't an unplanned accident. Am I being unreasonable to think at her age she should bloody know better?

YANBU and you're right to be worried. If she's willing to listen a bit, maybe this will persuade your sis to stop, or at least cut down, on smoking while she's pregnant.

Midwife friend told me that smoking in pregnancy is something that affects the foetus more and more as the pregnancy progresses; the baby's lungs don't really develop until quite late on in the pregnancy, so smoking in pregnancy affects the unborn child worst of all during the last trimester.

FWIW, any decrease or cessation of smoking will lessen damage to the unborn child wherever the mother is in the pregnancy.

What I mean is, some things affect the foetus only early on in the pregnancy, like taking folic acid, but the effect of smoking gets worse as the pregnancy progresses. Hope I've expressed this clearly!!

BTW, roll ups are at least as dangerous, if not more, than normal filter tips; really, no cigs are safe when you're pregnant.

My friend runs a clinic for pregnant women who smoke, to help them cut down/quit - is there any help like this available to your sister? And would she take it?

as unpalatable as it is,its up to her.there are risks associated with smoking and alcohol pg,presumably she knows that already,as well educated woman

but preachy or disapproval may make her more determined ,more contrary

the cognitive dissonance is one can be smart,clever but chose risky health decisions