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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sitting in a maternity waiting room stinking of smoke

94 replies

Climbingahoneytree · 18/03/2019 16:01

AIBU to think that you shouldn't sit in a maternity waiting room full of pregnant people stinking of smoke? The person I'm thinking about was a man there with his partner.

I know it isn't the same as smoking next to everybody but would you not bring a change of jumper etc if you knew you had to sit next to a load of pregnant people?

I was there today for a test and was asked to wait in the waiting room for 2 hours and do limited movement - other than toilet trips or to get water. Fortunately he wasn't there for as long otherwise it would have driven me mad!

Am I just being petty?
Personally I don't think I'd go in to any area of the hospital stinking of smoke, but that's just me.

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 18/03/2019 16:02

Judgy pants eh?

He probably can’t smell it.

BitchPeas · 18/03/2019 16:02

I think you’re being a bit precious!

SnuggyBuggy · 18/03/2019 16:02

He may not be aware of the smell, not that it makes it ok, it's very inappropriate

LuvSmallDogs · 18/03/2019 16:05

No, I wouldn’t bring a change of jumper, you’re being ridiculous.

Knickersononeshead · 18/03/2019 16:06

What a snowflake Hmm

NCforthis2019 · 18/03/2019 16:06

Confused yabu.

followthatducky · 18/03/2019 16:07

YANBU that's grim. At one of my antenatal scans, one bloke went outside for a fag during the heat wave last summer and didn't even move away from the entrance doors.
The breeze was blowing all the smoke in so I told the cheeky fecker to sod off and go to the designated smoking area. The idiot was stood below a "strictly no smoking" sign. Then proceeded to sit next to his heavily pregnant partner stinking of it. It's grim anyway but so much worse around babies and children.

Contraceptionismyfriend · 18/03/2019 16:07

It's disgusting but that's smokers 🤷‍♀️

Moanymoaner123 · 18/03/2019 16:07

Smokers can't smell themselves, speaking as a former smoker. Apparently I smelt like an ashtray for years and no one told me, I notice it now if I have a single cigarette on a night out. It is inconsiderate though, but people don't care about others

HarrysOwl · 18/03/2019 16:08

Yuck, I know what you mean. I hate that stale smoke smell, it's really antisocial.

FunkyKingston · 18/03/2019 16:09

Am I just being petty?

Yes you are.

Spiritinabody · 18/03/2019 16:09

Not nice for you but the smoker will be completely unaware that he stinks. Even if he knew it I don't think it's reasonable for you to expect him to bring a jumper to change into.

steakandcakes · 18/03/2019 16:10

Boring

formerbabe · 18/03/2019 16:10

You are being absolutely ridiculous

PuzzlingPuzzle · 18/03/2019 16:11

He probably doesn’t realise he stinks of smoke. Yes it’s disgusting but you’re being a bit precious to suggest that no one should go into a hospital if they’re a smoker (because all smokers do tend to smell of smoke). He wasn’t there for long, and if he was, you could have moved seats once one opened up given you had such a long wait. Although it’s gross, lots of people smell bad for one reason or another and this shouldn’t be that much of a big deal.

MrsJayy · 18/03/2019 16:11

People smoke they sometimes sit near to non smoking pregnant people probably no more or less dangerous than you walking near a main road or driving with your window down.

ethelfleda · 18/03/2019 16:11

Yes, you’re being petty.

PutThatDown10 · 18/03/2019 16:11

I hate the smell of cigarettes, even more so when I was pregnant as had a nose like a hound lol As much as it would have annoyed me, there's not much I could do and they probably aren't even aware of how badly they stench of it.

What I do think is rather inconsiderate are the smokers that stand outside the entrances and puff away... Especially outside the Maternity Unit. There's a reason why hospitals are supposed to be smoke free.

TrixieFranklin · 18/03/2019 16:12

YABU but I agree it's grim.

reallybadidea · 18/03/2019 16:13

It's grim but it's not actually going to do anyone any harm.

Motherofcreek · 18/03/2019 16:13

Hate it. Especially when it’s been raining and their coat is damp Sad

SherlockSays · 18/03/2019 16:14

DH is a smoker (well he's down to about 2/3 a day now) and is always quite aware of the smell of it but no, he wouldn't have taken a spare jumper. He does stand out in the fresh air away from people and doesn't go back inside until about 5 minutes after.

Katinkka · 18/03/2019 16:14

Yanbu. Disgusting bastard.

binkyblinky · 18/03/2019 16:15

I think it's a horrid smell makes me feel sick.

Studies show that a smoker who handles a baby even after half an hour there are still toxins on their clothes that could harm the baby. Though I doubt it would have harmed you, if you're suffering from sickness and cigarettes set you off like I did, I'd prob move. Smokers don't know how bad they can smell, and of course pregnant ladies have a heightened sense of smell.

Not unreasonable x

User478 · 18/03/2019 16:16

I assume you're doing a GTT?

You're hungry and therefore everything is a million times worse.

I hope it comes back negative and you can have some cake. (Or if it comes back positive you can have some cheese or peanut butter!)