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Original poster

Smoking while Pregnant... (!!)

367 replies

Lornatoo · 25/07/2006 23:33

Hi Guys. Normally a lurker, wondering if anybody is out there....?
My friend (honest!)is 28 weeks pregnant with her 3rd. She's really worried about her small bump. Measured at 26 weeks with the MW. She also feels really small in comparison with the previous two. She smokes heavily, is not without common sence and is REALLY worried about her unborn baby.
Now, do I NEED to point out the obvious? is it necessary? Any other somkers out there? I just don't know if I should 'put the boot in' when I'm sure she knows the answer.......?

OP posts:
mixedemotions123 · 27/07/2006 17:03

izzybiz, marmaladesun. Not wanting to get shouted at for this, but when i went to Allen Carr's clinic last year they explained quite clearly how smoking is not a habit (in their opinion)
Somebody who first thing in the morning wakes up and has a cup of tea before doing anything else, runs out of teabags and hates coffee. Would they feel panicky, would they walk 1 mile in the pouring rain to the nearest shop in order to get some teabags?
A mod/heavy smoker wakes up in the morning and reaches for cigarettes only to find an empty packet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any smoker who is addicted to cigarettes would surely admit the difference. I know how I would feel going to bed without having them in the house ready for morning.

mixedemotions123 · 27/07/2006 17:09

Also I 100% agree that the more people say to you "you really do need to give up smoking" the more it makes you smoke. OK it can make you feel sick to your stomach when you see the adverts on telly and read the warnings on the side of the pack, but how many smokers carry on doing it anyway. Not because you are a bad person/parent/weak fool or whatever, but your subconscious takes control of your need and you reach for another one of the little buggers.
Sorry this probably sounds like a load of old tosh to non-smokers, but I hope I am not alone in my opinions.

courtney88 · 27/07/2006 18:09

ok whats the big deal!!!!!!!!!! my god what ever happened to individual choice! If a woman wants to smoke through her pregnancy then so be it, her body HER BABY!!!!!!

MrsJohnCusack · 27/07/2006 18:12

well the point is it isn't individual choice is it, not for the baby anyhow

and it's proven to be v.bad for unborn babies - I think that much is fact and can't be argued with.

god only knows if Lornatoo is still reading this thread. I hope there's still some advice in there!

colditz · 27/07/2006 18:15

Incidentally, MarmaladeSun, you have still failed to provide the evidence that you are right.

courtney88 · 27/07/2006 18:25

Well i aint tring to argue with fact

I'm well aware of the "risks"

but if one wants to do it then thats it, case closed!!

FairyMum · 27/07/2006 18:30

Poor babies

SenoraPostrophe · 27/07/2006 18:30

MrsJC - no, but then neither is breastfeeding, feeding entirely from jars, shouting at children etc. I never have understood why it's ok to be so self-righteous where smoking is concerned, but not about other things.

courtney88 · 27/07/2006 18:41

SenoraPostrophe- you have a vg point.

MrsJohnCusack · 27/07/2006 18:48

Er - breastfeeding, feeding from jars and shouting are as damaging to a baby's health as smoking whilst pregnant? I don't think so.

I wasn't even getting hysterical over how anyone could smoke whilst pregnant on this thread. But I can't let the personal choice comment go, sorry

quootiepie · 27/07/2006 18:54

SENORA - when has breastfeeding been bad for babies? feeding from jars? how does that compare to smoking? Courtney - Her body, her baby? SO when her baby arrives, its ok to abuse it... after all its HER baby. This is such a silly thread. smoking is bad for you and others around or inside you dont try and argue that point... you just cant

MrsJohnCusack · 27/07/2006 18:57

I was TRYING not get 'self-righteous' on this thread because a) it's not helpful to the original poster and b) we all know smoking whilst pregnant is v.bad for the baby. End of. But I DON'T want to start ranting about how disgusting,terrible mother bla bla bla becuase that's not what I do.

but look I've ended up having to point out that smoking is bad and no doubt will be seen as smug hag by some now. Oh no.

so it's PARP from me, good luck to you Lornatoo if you're still reading and please shoot me if you see me here agin.

FairyMum · 27/07/2006 18:57

Absolutely quootiepie. Trying to justify smoking while pregnant by pointing out that people drive cars or feed their babies from jars just make you look even more stupid than you already do standing there with your ciggie and big tummy.

courtney88 · 27/07/2006 18:57

in defence of senora she didn't say breastfeeding or jar feeding was as bad as smoking!!!!!!

courtney88 · 27/07/2006 19:03

In the end of the day, however dangerous it is however bad it looks bla bla blaaa!!!

If your going to do it then your going to do it.

LilacHamster · 27/07/2006 19:15

Did Senora mean to say bottle-feeding and said breastfeeding instead, because the sentence makes no sense otherwise.

How can anyone say "what's the big deal" when some of us (caz1000) have either lost babies by making the mistake of smoking in pregnancy, or been damaged by our own mothers smoking (that was me).

I can assure you this is a big deal, the human suffering costs of smoking and passive smoking are enormous, so Courtney especially it is very insensitive to belittle that and call it personal choice!

SenoraPostrophe · 27/07/2006 19:31

I meant breastfeeding is not a choice for the baby. and it isn't. and who says bottle feeding etc isn't as bad a risk for your baby as smoking while pregnant? Note that I'm talking about risk here, and I don't mean to insult anyone who genuinely couldn't breastfeed, but the fact is that just as many ailments have been associated with not breastfeeding as with smoking.

SenoraPostrophe · 27/07/2006 19:34

LH - I'm sorry, but no-one can say for certain that either Caz lost her baby due to smoking or that you have been damaged by it.

But anyway, MrsJC I didn't mean to call you self righteous. You weren't particularly although others on this thread have been. Your comment just reminded me that criticisms of smoking also apply to other things, that's all.

courtney88 · 27/07/2006 19:37

lilachamster, in the end of the day it is personal choice if i want to smoke i will, if you don't you won't.

SenoraPostrophe · 27/07/2006 19:40

I wouldn't go as far to say it's personal choice in the sense that wearing red or blue is personal choice though.

courtney88 · 27/07/2006 19:48

Then what would you say it was??

TambaIsHotHotHot · 27/07/2006 19:50

I guess we all make bad decisions when we are young.....

SenoraPostrophe · 27/07/2006 19:51

an addiction?

MrsBadger · 27/07/2006 19:52

[me? I'm still laughing at 'Fruit Shit']

LilacHamster · 27/07/2006 19:52

I certainly do know without any doubt that I am damaged from second-hand smoke, I would not say it if there was another explanation for my allergic reaction to smoke even in tiny amounts, there is nothing else that could have done this to me. I hope none of you who smoke succeed in doing as much damage to your children as my mother did to me. I don't know how you can live with yourselves if you do!
Would you feel able to accept responsibility for your child as an adult who is permanently ill and has to live with the long-term damage you caused? My mother has not been any help or accepted her responsibility so I cannot forgive her.