Should pregnant women be banned from smoking in light of new research?

[hunkermunker]

See here

"Nine out of 10 mothers whose babies suffered cot death smoked during pregnancy, according to a scientific study to be published this week. The study, thought to be one of the most authoritative to date on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), says women who smoke during pregnancy are four times more likely than non-smokers to see their child fall victim to cot death."

Personally, I find it very, very hard to understand why anybody smokes while knowingly pregnant. And yes, I know it's addictive. I speak as an ex-smoker, not somebody who has no idea what it's like to have a love affair with the evil weed.

You mean like MN QofQ?

Um, Edam, read what I posted.

I said I didn't think banning was possible or the way forward.

Don't twist my words, please! FFS, I don't think pregnant women are imperfect beings or need to be controlled by society - I just wish that they could control themselves when it's something as basic as "not poisoning unborn babies" - I don't know many women who'd blow smoke in the face of their hour-old baby, but that's, in effect, what they do when they smoke in pregnancy.

I'm an ex-smoker too, who stopped the second I found out I was pregnant

I would say I have quite an addictive personality, but have thankfully managed to curb it now I have kids

Yes, I managed to quit easily. But when I smoked, I bloody loved it. If it did no harm and didn't cost a sodding fortune, I'd do it now, probably.

But you can't get away from the fact that if you smoke while pregnant, you are exposing your baby to toxins that, as this report finds, not only do harm when the baby's in the womb, but have long-lasting, possibly fatal damage.

But feel free to get angry at me for mentioning it.

FFS.

Hunker, that's what is implied in your post: 'Personally, I'd like women to have an internal ethical threshold that's set a bit higher than "continue to poison my unborn baby cos I'm addicted" but that's just me.'

Means: 'Women who smoke are immoral.' Doesn't it?

I find it strange that people offer the courtesy of moving away from non-smokers when having a cigarette yet don't offer the same consideration to their unborn child!

well yes - I supposed MN could count.

I only mention because IME (with RL people) those smokers who have additive personalities have found it much harder (and even almost impossible) to stop than those who don't - I've been addicted to other stuff too (I supposed alcohol to some extent before I met DH, but not drugs) and other things and despite standing there while pg, with cigarette in my mouth, calling myself names I would never let the older DS's here me say I just couldn't stop - spent a fortune on gum, patches etc - would have a piece of gum......then go out and have a cigarette 10 minutes afterwards?????

My 'FFS' post about social services was in response to Lovecloud's post, btw, not you Hunker.

And before anyone jumps on me I am also an ex-smoker but went cold turkey as soon as I found out I was pregnant (and struggled big time), and thankfully didn't take it up again.

QofQ, dh has been on the lozenges for 3.5 years (I think it is more expensive than smoking ).

QoQ, I used to smoke really heavily. I was addicted. I loved it. Stopped when I found out I was pg. I felt sick anyway so it wasn't that hard. It was very hard to stop when I wasn't pg. I tried and failed many times.

I've also taken drugs. But I didn't find that that I became addicted to them. I just stopped. That was that. I didn't even think twice about it or fancy doing it again. I had a boyfriend at the time who had to go into rehab for his drug problems.

So, I don't know about the addictive personality thing. Maybe some people's brains are more responsive to some substances than others?

I think (not trying to make excuses I promise) the reason I found it impossible with DS3 was because I was so sodding stressed all the time. There were a few days/up to a week where I managed to virtually stop.....but then I was tempted towards the bottle. I had to make a decision as we whether I wanted to risk FAS (and be in no fit state to look after the other DS's) or to smoke and have those risks over my head.

I felt awful smoking and never really enjoyed it at all and hated myself doing it (which didn't exactly help my stress levels) but couldn't stop

Edam, that post was more about my own personal view - I am harder on myself than anybody else ever could be, I beat myself up about the tiniest thing - probably not a glowing character trait, but it sure as hell helps with things like this.

I don't think "immoral" is quite the right word - I think selfish is up there, but it's more about being unable to understand how someone can buy cigarettes, unwrap the cellophane, open the box, take the foil out, remove a cigarette, put it to their lips, light it and inhale deeply, all while their unborn baby's kicking them.

I just don't get it.

No, the principle we have in English law is women can do what they like to their babies, abort the baby or bungee jump at 8 months pregnant etc.

It would be a retrograde step if we went back to women's bodies not being theirs in effect whilst pregnant, a nanny state and very non feminist too. Once the baby is born it's different and then there are competing obligations.

The NHS and/or the Govt also need to provide more in the way of support and education to help stop people smoking, epsecially to pregnant women. And to stop giving conflicting advice/messages.

Agree wholeheartedly with Callisto's post:

"I think smoking while pregnant is immensly selfish and stupid but not sure about banning pregnant women from smoking. I gave up a 30 a day habit as soon as a found out I was pregnant so I know how hard it is."

I did the same - 20 a day habit.

Because I put the health and welfare of my unborn child first.

And it was bloody hard, and very difficult to overcome the cravings for nicotine.

But there is NO excuse for smoking when pregnant.

Xenia, I agree with you wholeheartedly about it being a retrograde step to try to control pregnant women.

That's really not what I'm suggesting. I just want women to take responsibility for their actions and realise that the information that's out there that says smoking is harmful when pregnant isn't there to get at them.

And I do agree, more support should be given to women who smoke and find themselves pregnant (I am not sure about women who smoke and ttc - not sure I get that at all, really - I mean, yes, support should be given, but wtf is your mindset that you go into a wanted pregnancy knowing you're poisoning your baby?!).

I gave up smoking when pregnant with ds1, started again when he was a year old and I was severely depressed. Cigarettes became a 'crutch'. Gave up again over 3 years ago. Went completely cold turkey... Why??

One because when i lit up I didnt actually like the cigarette or that I smelt (only smoked outside)

Mainly because I had a 4 year old son asking me to stop smoking as it would make me poorly.

Hearing my child worrying about the health of his mummy and asking that his mummy stop smoking was enough. THere is no way I would like for my child to smoke, the health implications are too dangerous. Why was I being so selfish (yup selfish) to put my addiction above the needs of my child (which are to have a healthy mum, and good environment).

I am pregnant again and even if i get depressed I vow not to smoke again because 'just one' would always end up being more.

I felt guilty as hell when I smoked and would be on here defending the right to choose and the fact that i didnt infront of ds etc etc but that would be because i felt so damn guilty about smoking and wasnt strong enough to sort it out.

It's not entirely the same, but when we were going through assessment to adopt I had a real struggle with understanding why women would continue to take crack/heroin/alcohol/cigarettes etc while pregnant. I feared that I would always look at my child and feel sad or angry that he was born damaged or addicted because of his ante-natal experience. Especially as I would have done everything right if only I could have gotten/stayed pregnant.

But now I think that these women are not bad, they are sad. On the whole if they were going to be strong enough to give up they probably would have done it long before they got pregnant. Women who just stop smoking (or whatever) when they find they are pregnant are stronger than they realise, and I think they therefore over-estimate other people's ability to stop addictive behaviour.

Anyway, I think it would be a seriously bad precedent to make something illegal for pregnant women only, when it's entirely legal for the general population. Pregnant women would be under even greater stress and there is a strong possibility that they wouldn't seek ante-natal care until quite late in the pregnancy because of the shame of being seen as a 'criminal'.

Although i dont think 'banning' women is a helpful way to go. I think continued education about the detriments to health and support for those wanting to give up.

I have such strong opinions on this subject I have written, not posted, deleted, rewritten, and given up.

I shall sit on my fingertips and NOT give my opinion.

agree with bran and edam

i would think the majority of women who do smoke in pregnancy do know of the dangers, but choose not to stop for a variety of reasons. they must surely know that most people would condemn them for it. making it illegal won;t stop it, will just make women less likely to ask for help giving up, which can only be a bad thing.

would it then become a criminal offence to not take folic acid as it is so good at preventing neural tube defects..

banning pregnant women from smoking. drinking infantilises women and starts a slippery slope to the women being nothing more than a vessel or incubator

Can I just say, again, in capitals, that I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO BAN PREGNANT WOMEN FROM SMOKING.

yes, i realise that, but the thread title is, 'should pregnant women be banned from smoking...' so was answering that !