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Original poster

anyone start smoking after birth? would it be that bad?!

24 replies

DaniJade1990 · 03/08/2010 09:45

Just wondering whether anyone took up smoking again after having their baby? My DD is almost 3weeks old and I've just got an overwhelming urge to begin smoking again!! I don't know why, I think it might just be that its a little something to do on my own, a vice perhaps! Or maybe its just because I'm stressed a lot of the time and remember how smoking used to help me! Oh I dunno! Someone tell me I'm mad to even consider it?!

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Hassled · 03/08/2010 09:47

You're mad to even consider it. You're stressed and knackered - that's why it's so appealing. It will pass. There's never a good time to take up smoking, plus you'll end up with shit skin and a cat's bum mouth.

withorwithoutyou · 03/08/2010 09:48

Best not to, even if you don't smoke near the baby parfticles will stay on your clothes/skin/hair and can still put her health at risk.

She's more likely to be a cot death victim if you smoke too (sorry, I know that's harsh but it's true)

Igglybuff · 03/08/2010 09:48

I would say yes you're mad! Sorry. But being exposed to second hand smoke or the chemicals from the smoke on your clothes and breath puts your DD at a higher risk of SIDS and breathing problems.

Can you find other ways to relax (hard with a 3 week old I know)? Let DH/family look after her for an hour and go for a walk/have a bath etc?

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Igglybuff · 03/08/2010 09:50

I think hassled has it right (serious considerations aside). Smoking makes your skin yellow (my mum has horrid yellow fingers from holding ciggies)

MummyBerryJuice · 03/08/2010 10:00

I understand your desire to start again. I'm a smoker myself (haven't had a cigarette for 18months though!) and do still get the occasional craving but I know DS deserves to have clean air and a fresh smelling mummy and I know that I had less energy when I used to smoke so the exhaustion of having a small baby coupled with the lack of energy would make life even harder.

Take it one day at a time and remind yourself that you've coped without them for 9months so another day won't seem so hard.

Good luck

Arewenearlythereyet2009 · 03/08/2010 10:14

It's obviously always best to stay away from it. I saw on a TV programme that said, as withorwithoutyou said, that smoking particles will stay on your clothes and skin and can still have a very negative effect.

Be strong DaniJade!

MrsMc82 · 03/08/2010 10:36

I started smoking again after DS was born but only socially on the rare occassions that I've been out with friends, but it IS ridiculous. I managed fine for 9 months and I've only ever been a social smoker (only time I smoke alone would be if am very very VERY stressed) so really should have stopped and feel terribly guilty that I haven't, even tho only smoke a tiny amount its a silly habit!

So my advice would be - don't start again!! But know how hard that might be, my best friend started again for the same reason as you were saying, she says its just that 5 mins of peace she gets in the garden with a fag just a couple of times a day - tho she feel massively guilty too so again - don't do it!!

zebedeethezebra · 03/08/2010 11:17

DON'T DO IT!!!

For starters, you'll be putting your baby more at risk of cot death, even if you go outside to do it.

Just congratulate yourself that you've given up.

Poppet45 · 04/08/2010 14:19

Don't do it, don't know if you're breastfeeding, but if you are the amount of nicotine and other toxins in your milk would be double what your DC would receive if you smoked in the room with her! It also buggers up your milk supply and has been linked to colic. You think you're stressed now, try colic stress. And if your not BFing then your DC won't get any extra immune system help from you to deal with all the extra ear infections, colds and other bugs she's going to more susceptible to because you smoke.
I used to smoke, but haven't had one for 20 months now, since I found out I was expecting, and am wistfully looking forward to a ciggy to celebrate the end of breastfeeding whenever my DS (coming up to 1) decides to wean himself. Likely to be another year I'd reckon! That said I really hope I'm not dumb enough to light up - as there is never only one cigarette is there?

Marjee · 04/08/2010 16:45

Don't do it! I started again about 8 hours after ds was born and I regret it so much. I stopped as soon as I found out I was pg after 20 a day for 12 years and I'm so angry with myself for giving in to temptation after going cold turkey for 9 months. I enjoy smoking and never do it indoors or near ds but ultimately its an addiction which I had under control. Don't believe it will be just 1 cigarette like I did because it never is!

ginbob · 04/08/2010 21:14

yes I started again after having my first, I boozed and smoked freely just because all of a sudden you are not pregnant, not working, and have time on your hands I suppose! Teeny tiny babies don't give much back and the days can be terribly boring. So far not much harm done, BUT you'll pay for it when he/she is toddling about and you don't have any gaps to cram a smoke into and you're addicted and really want one and are having to say 'Mummy's just popping out to put the bins out'; and driving halfway round the UK to get them to sleep so you can have a fag. (!!!!!) I only gave up when pregnant again, and this time I know better than to start in the first place ;-)

Sidge · 04/08/2010 21:35

Don't do it!!

Children of smokers are three times more likely to smoke themselves.

Children of smokers are more likely to suffer glue ear, chest infections and respiratory illness.

Read this to see the health benefits of not smoking

quaere · 04/08/2010 21:36

fight it, man. Smoking smells and makes you ugly. Plus the cot death thing

zapostrophe · 04/08/2010 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

midnightexpress · 04/08/2010 21:42

You are your child's first teacher is all I'll say.

midnightexpress · 04/08/2010 21:43

Actually it's not. My dad died of lung cancer and it's shit to watch your beloved parent dying of that horrible disease. Really, It should be compulsory viewing for all smokers.

LadyGoneGaga · 04/08/2010 22:33

My Mum has emphysema and in last few weeks started coughing up blood and has a mass on lung - suspected lung cancer. I begged her to stop when I was a little girl, now it's all come true. Please don't put your children through that.

Ingles2 · 04/08/2010 22:40

please don't DaniJade...
I started again after a miscarriage and it took me another 7 years to give up...
7 years in which my children regularly asked me to stop...
7 years in which I spent a fortune on a stinky, horrible addiction that could kill me.
Think of all the treats and presents and holidays I could have had with my boys...
I gave up 6 months ago now and will never go back

Lynli · 04/08/2010 22:46

Don't - I too started again five minutes after finding out about my MMC.

It was a complete pain, I kept trying to get away from my other toddler to have a cigarette. (I never smoked infront of her). I felt guilty if I popped to the shop saying she had to stay at home with DH.

In the end I gave it up again, I was so stupid to go through that twice.

You don't want to breathe smoke over your new baby.

It gets easier, I have not smoked for nearly 10 years and wouldn't ever be tempted.

usernamechanged345 · 04/08/2010 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tethersend · 04/08/2010 22:58

Gah; you could be me 20 months ago.

That's why I started again- to get away for five fucking minutes; also perhaps to reclaim what I thought was the rebellious part of my personality

It also helped me to stay awake. I think I kept smoking because I was tired and going outside to smoke woke me up.

Anyway, now I am trying to quit because my DD watches me through the window and i know she will start mimicking me soon. I must stop- don't do it, you feel like shit once they start to understand what's going on.

Whelk · 05/08/2010 08:50

Yep - totally mad. All the above reasons!

Fizzylemonade · 05/08/2010 20:19

My Mum died 6 months ago from lung cancer, you would never want to put your children through that, trust me. It is horrific.

I think if people knew how horrific even chemo was you wouldn't ever smoke again.

SweetAlice · 05/08/2010 22:46

I restarted smoking after birth . I appologise because what I will write next will sound like a smoking advert, but I found my DS really difficult to cope with. Every time I would get to the stage when I felt really angry with his crying or fussing or whatever else he has been doing, I would go out for a cigarette. Smoking calmed me down, allowed me time to look at the situation from a different angle and in less than 5 minutes I was calm and happy to be a mother again. I could say cigarettes saved his life. I smoked all through the next pregnancy and the baby was bigger (9lb 3oz) than the first one and perfectly healthy. My kids are now 5yo and 4yo and life is less stressful. I stopped smoking 2 months ago. I was worried that I cannot shout at my kids to eat their greens because they are good for them, with a cigarette in my mouth. I am a sceptical person but, out of curiosity and desire to say that at least I tried something, I bought Paul Mckenna's Stop Smoking Now book and CD. I read the book in 6 hours (with cigarette breaks) and then I listened to the CD and for some reason, I just stopped wanting to smoke so I stopped smoking. For few days I was very emotional in general, but still did not craved a cigarette. I totaly reccomend you give that book a try first. It will get your mind off cigarettes.
When I first stopped smoking while pregnant, every day I would daydream about coffee and cigarettes and this daydream kept me going. I kept telling myself that my baby has a right to clean fresh air and all that.

After I read McKenna, I don't even daydream about ciggies. I don't crave them, I don't need to avoid smokers. This book and CD worked for me, I am sure it will work for you especially since you are not even smoking.

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