shocking- deliberate smoking whilst pregnant

[MadameMorticiaMills]

In todays Guardian, report on smoking during pregnancy just to have a smaller baby. Are they for real? here

I had heard this sort of thing before but kind of dismissed it as a myth, that these were just tales, but apparently not.

There is a bravado among some mums. Like the ones feeding their kids junk food through the school gates. It's like a rebellion against being told what to do by the "state". Maybe there is an illicit thrill in going against what you are supposed to do.

But that is just heartbreaking and I hope the child is okay now.

I have no idea GQM (love the name btw! )as I delivered ds after two weeks (section) and left the hospiral a few days later. When I had ds she was still in hospital and had quite a way still to go, at least 2 months.

After I had ds there was another mum on the unit who had smoked through pg. her son (full term) was half the size of mine, and I was the clapped out , older Mum who should have had the smaller baby. It was all so sad

Its very sad but true, what can anyone do? I work in the NHS and see many pregnant mums (not all teenage) who smoke. They look down on the pregnant mums who take drugs. They all have access to information and therefore, to choice. Ive never come across a mum to be who started smoking to have a smaller baby, but the ones who already do certainly use it as a way to justify continuing. They usually say, when challenged, well my mum smoked when she was having me and Im all right. Thus the cycle continues.

It is very interesting that you said 'My mum smoked as I was OK'

My mother smoked all the time she was carrying me and I was 7 8 at birth a quite respoctable weight. She always used to use this statistic to poo poo the theory that smokers had maller babies.

However she was 12 pounds at birth and my two were 8.10 and 9 1 (and the latter was at two weeks early!)

So me coming in at 7 8 might have been smaller than I should have been

I was speechless when I heard this. Stupid stupid girls. How can they be so wrong on so many counts??

I think it's so bloody selfish to continue smoking whilst pregnant same as people who smoke around their babies, the poor babies have no choice but to breath in the smoke it's horrible. I remember being in a car with my Mum and Dad both puffing away struggling to breathe with the windows rolled down being told to roll them up as the rain was getting it and being told to "shut up it's only smoke" by my parents. I was premature, only 5lbs and had asthma, bronchitis and premanent chest infections growing up too

I must admit that I cant help but glare at mums to be or mums and dads pushing their kids along and smoking a cigarette. Selfish gits!!!

I often have to bite my lip to stop myself saying something

What about parents who are v careful to keep the kids away from the smoke? I suppose smoking is becoming a pariah habit, regardless of where, when or how.

I'm ashamed to admit that I have smoked on and off for years. I never do it anywhere near the children and have never had a single cigarette while pregnant. Just couldn't do it.

But I have been a smoker as a mum. I think it is awful and am not proud of it. The thought of smoking while the children are around makes me cringe so much.