Your thoughts on smoking/conception and pregnancy

[lj123]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts where in smoking either when TTC, pregnancy or after when a baby is around.

My mum smoked with all 4 pregnancies.
I am a smoker and have conceived 5 times, 4 MC, 1 ectopic, every time I have discovered pregnancy I have cut down, first few times I stopped completely but now I dot know what the best move is, a doctor has said to cut down would be better than to give up totally as it can amuse shock to body.....

I think maybe if you're planning to have a baby it might make more sense to try and cut down and stop completely now rather than deciding to do that after you've fallen pregnant. You might find it easier without the whirl of hormones when you do get pg. Goes without saying that it's worth doing anyway and you'll feel so proud of yourself for stopping. Then when you do get pg you can focus on that instead of having to think about quitting. I'm so sorry to hear about your previous pregnancy losses too, that must be so hard. I do think you should quit smoking for you now, regardless of possible pregnancy. You can do it

Awww thank you. I think ill tackle cutting down next week as just had a week off work and moved house and hate work lol, ill get there in the end, thank you for understanding
In a way I feel like if I give up ill loose again, sounds so silly considering its so bad for you and I understand that I just can't think give up if nothings going to happen anyway even though it would be good for my own health.

I know it's hard but do try. I used inhalators, chewing gum and patches to do it. Don't feel like you shouldn't use them. I was finding it really hard and the pharmacist advised me to use stronger patches at first and I found this made it a lot easier. Get support from wherever you can. I think you'll feel less bad using nicotine replacement if you're not pregnant yet too.

That's true, I was a bit sceptical in patches, wasn't sure they would do te trick at all, ill stock up when I get paid and go for it. X

Good luck! Read Alan Carrs book on stopping smoking too if you haven't already. It helped me see quitting as something positive I was giving myself rather than something I was denying myself iyswim.

Thank you, ill look into it. Xx

I would go to gp and explain you reau want to give up before you conceive (I think that would be most sensible option and trying to give up pregnant may be very difficult) if you go to go they will be able to give you lots of things on prescription. My dad found a mixture of patches and electric cigarettes the best and now has nothing and hasn't for two years after 30 odd years smoking!!! So you can do it but you need to really want to do it or you won't be able to if that makes sense!!!

Please stop smoking. It reduces your chances of conception when ttc and in pregnancy harms the child. Surely it's worse for your body to continue smoking, even when cutting down, than it is to stop completely and have withdrawal symptoms for a while.