smoking and pregnancy

[ttcnads]

hello ladies, im not looking for judgement - just a serious advice.

Im about 3 weeks pregnant and found out 7 days before AF - I've cut down on my cigarette in take but finding it really hard to stop completely.. so far levels are doubling and line progression looking good.. but can't help but worry...

what are some tips I can use to quit =[ its like my body keeps asking me to have one and I cannot fight it.. I know its super selfish and I hate this but I am stuck and don't know what to do..

I set myself a reward for every day I smoked at first like a magnum, or a box of fudge, then as it went on bigger rewards like shoes or clothes I'd been eyeing for making a week, or a month etc. Worked for me . Good luck x

• every day I DIDNT smoke

How are you getting on @ttcnads ?

@arlequin hey! so its been 2 days I've been 0 Nic!!! and im super happy about my cut down, I keep drinking water every time I have a craving and it helps, I nap when the craving gets too much on me.. keep in mind I was a chain smoker since 17 years old =[ never thought it would lead me here..

do you think that quitting at 5 weeks pregnant will be good for baby? I regret smoking at all from conception to week 4.. im now 5 weeks and still worried that I smoked prior.. what do u think?

@ladygindiva such a great idea!!!!! thank you =]

Wow @ttcnads that's amazing!!!!

Don't worry about the first 4 weeks, what's done is done and as the placenta develops (as it will be starting to now) that's when the smoking will have the biggest effect. You've done something truly selfless for your baby and that's absolutely brilliant!
Your lungs will also be starting to repair too 😀

OP I am really proud of you! Regarding the first 4 weeks I'd say try not to be too hard on yourself. Think of the many mums out there who have no idea they're pregnant until they're a month down the line. So many mums have had a little drink or maybe a cigarette on a night out and not known they were pregnant until weeks later. It happens.
You know you're pregnant, you're doing something about the smoking and you're doing well. Now you and baby can be smoke free for the pregnancy and hopefully for life too. Well done!

Hi
When I was Pregnant with my eldest I didn't smoke cigarettes but I did enjoy a cigar every now and then and my child Turned out fine but try to cut down.

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Hi, I used to work in smoking cessation. As long as you quit in the first trimester then there is evidence that the baby will be an absolutely normal birthweight so well done you!! Keep it up.

Just as an aside, a lot of pregnant women won’t use things like nicotine patches or gum because they say they are unsafe during pregnancy. Smoking is even more unsafe so if you ever feel like you absolutely have to have nicotine then using patches, gum etc is much better than starting to smoke again.

Good luck. You will be a great mum.

Hi op firstly congratulations. Secondly I smoked till I was 3months pregnant then stopped. Just speak with your midwife hun

@ttcnads yes please I urge you to give up smoking. Time to put this beautiful life first.
While it may be completely unrelated, my mother smoked with me during her entire pregnancy ( this was the early 80s) I was born premature I think at 4.11 lbs. I've a string of health problems as long as my arm including arrymthia of my heart. While none of them may have been causes by smoking, it's safer to stop and not take any risks as I've always felt like I've never had a great quality of life.
I'm 38 now and expecting my first. I've had to cut out sugar and know how hard it is to cut out something your completely addicted too.
My dad was a smoker also but hasn't smoked in about 20 years. He says quitting was the best thing he ever did

@MoonstoneGoddess my mother smoked through all 4 of her pregnancies in the 70's-80's me & all my siblings were perfectly healthy weights. Also my grandmother smoked throughout all 7 of her pregnancies and had huge babies.
Not suggesting you shouldn't quit while pregnant but everyone I've known/know who's smoked in pregnancy hasn't had any underweight or unhealthy babies.

I used vape to quit smoking. Yes, I know it's still nicotine but it's an addiction, it's not always that easy to just stop. For some women it is, and for some it isn't. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances and the risk of relapse can be quite high with the cold turkey method, especially for someone who struggles to quit.

I was advised to use smoking cessation products because while the nicotine is still harmful, it's a lot less harmful than cigarettes, and you can immediately swap the cigarettes for vapes/patches and then cut down the nicotine content gradually until you stop completely. It's most harmful later in pregnancy, so if you can fully quit by the 2nd trimester, your baby will likely be fine

I'm in no way advocating for vaping during pregnancy, nor am I saying it's safe, it isn't. Nicotine is still harmful, it's just a lot less harmful than carbon monoxide so can be a good alternative for some women.

My friend didn't stop smoking when pregnant and she found out her son was missing his forearm and hand.
Her son has to live with that.

Not saying that will happen to you, I am saying that the risks to a child are real and not overstated.

Thats interesting because smoking is known to cause low birth weights.
Women are advised to quit smoking during pregnancy. Speak to your gp or midwife they can offer you support on quitting.
My friend smoked through her pregnancy and her baby was born with a cleft lip.
The specialist said this is a linked to smoking in pregnancy

Second hypnotherapy.... My dad was a forty a day smoker for thirty years then had hypnotherapy and stopped overnight. He says he lit in once, about a year after stopping and immediately felt sick and stubbed it out. He's not gone near a cigarette in over twenty years now.

*lit one