Smoking while pregnant?

[Charleney]

I unfortunately am a smoker, and im finding it very hard to give up.
Is this common for smokers and does it really affect the baby if you do smoke??

OP, try this one:

Take 1 jam jar

Half fill it with water

Stick in the number of fags you smoke a day

Seal up the jar with the lid and give it a shake

Anytime you are tempted to have a fag, look at it - it will be hideous, yellow, tarry, grossness.

If you still need some persuasion, open the lid and take a good deep sniff.

Worked for me

Hotbox that's ridiculous. I don't doubt that your child is fine, and I don't doubt that your midwife advised you that 5 low tar fags a day is less harmful than 20 full tar fags, cos it is, relatively speaking. However you were lucky, as was your child. The facts remain that smoking during pregnancy raises the risks significantly of the above complications. An anecdote about a smoker whose child was fine is completely meaningless, and actually harmful if it leads people to think they don't need to quit.

I'm afraid I'm with Daisy. I find it worrying that a 22 year old has to be told that smoking in pg is bad for the baby. 22 is not a child, it's a grown woman and to look for permission from a bunch of strangers on the Internet to carry on puffing away when the media, cigarette packs and Joe Bloggs are all constantly telling you how bad it is, is baffling. Your decision whether you quit but don't pretend you don't know it's harmful, take some responsibility please.

What are these different things you've been told by nurses and doctors? That's worrying as well.

charleyney hope you have had a go at stopping and are finding it ok. I used to smoke too and although stopped years before I ever got preg (old mum ) I used to think a lot about how hard it must be to stop overnight because you are preg. Like everyone says the thought of harming your child is terrible though and secondhand smoke has similar bad effects esp on cot death (which terrified me for months to start with). Just as another suggestion how about trying to stop together or getting dh to cut down and putting the money from not buying fags in a big glass jar? it really helped me as suddenly i really quickly had quite a lot of cash to buy something great as a treat. Good luck and congrats !

I was under the impression that people were here to support eachother! Cannot believe some of the comments I have read on this tread!!

I was a smoker and giving up was one of the hardest things I have done; even though I was doing it for my baby! I didnt totally give up until I was about 14 weeks.

You will ALWAYS get stick from non smokers as they dont understand how difficult it is. And Im sorry but reformed smokers are the worst kind!!

My advice would be not to beat yourself up about it and try not to get worked up by other peoples attacks, set a deadline and aim to give up ccompletely by then.

Good luck! I know you will be able to do it! I am almost 39 weeks now and dont even think about having a cig even when Im around people smoking! xx

No one is attacking her. She is the one swearing and claiming ignorance because of her age. She isn't the first person to have to give up smoking.

She sounds aggressive and childish and doesn't want to be told that smoking is bad so she can justify carrying on.

"I was under the impression that people were here to support eachother!"

Here? On Mumsnet?

You'll always find someone here who is just unable to say what they think WITHOUT resorting to being rude, aggressive or patronising. It's obviously too much effort for those people.

Just listen to the ones who are prepared to be honest with you AND reasonable.

Do you think she is looking for advice? Or do you think she came on here looking for lots of people to do what HotBox did and say naah go ahead, it's fine.

'I am finding it hard to give up, does it really affect the baby?'

That's looking for a reason not to, sorry. I've never smoked but I am overweight so I know all about willpower (or lack of!) and how difficult it is to do something like this. Had she come on and said she was finding this really hard and please could we give her some tips it would be entirely different.

I'm sorry if that's not supportive or not what the OP wanted to hear.

I have commented on this thread. The OP asked for advice/opinions. We have given her our opinions. If people don't want to hear it, they shouldn't ask! I feel very strongly about smoking in PG and have held back a huge amount on saying exactly how I feel about it. People shouldn't be censored for fear of hurting someones feelings... Especially someone who didn't worry too much about telling Daisy to Fuck off! What about Daisys feelings? OP asked the question and not everyone is going to agree, that's life. But how anyone can try and justify smoking when PG is beyond me. would you feel ok blowing smoke into your newborns face... No differance if you ask me. If you only want people to tell you that smoking is ok, I think you've come to the wrong place.

The only person I see being rude aggressive and sweary on this thread is the OP

Hotbox your midwife strikes me as irresponsible and unprofessional.
A glass of wine a day is too much too.

OP, if you do come back, you do know you're not supposed to drink much when pregnant too, don't you?

HotBox your midwife was so so wrong.

It is NEVER better to smoke than to stop. The stress of smoking is minimal and has little to no impact on the baby. And NRT is far far safer to a pregnant woman and her baby than smoking. Low tar cigarettes are no better for you, the amount of tar is still dangerous and they still contain the other 2500 chemicals (of which 250 are proven carcinogens) that can harm you.

Your midwife needs retraining, urgently.

Charleney,

I'm not a smoker but am also 22 and pg (19 +5) and know that there is a LOT of information to learn in what feels like a tiny amount of time, and pretty awful consequences if you miss something really important, like smoking!

I was aware smoking is a no-no, but all the eating guidelines came as a shock (no soft cheese, no pate, and how much caffeine exactly?!)

Do just follow the NHS guidelines; I've been using them and they are really easy to read.

If I want to have more than the allowed amount of wine or just say sod it and eat pate, I imagine the reward I'll get at the end, a healthy baby.

I feel bad for saying this, but you DO need to mature. I don't know anyone who is pregnant (whatever their age or circumstances) who hasn't needed to mature when they got pregnant! Suddenly you are responsible for another life, and one that is completely helpless. Anyone who is completely prepared for that before pregnancy is ... miraculous!

Charleney,

I'm not a smoker but am also 22 and pg (19 +5) and know that there is a LOT of information to learn in what feels like a tiny amount of time, and pretty awful consequences if you miss something really important, like smoking!

I was aware smoking is a no-no, but all the eating guidelines came as a shock (no soft cheese, no pate, and how much caffeine exactly?!)

Do just follow the NHS guidelines; I've been using them and they are really easy to read.

If I want to have more than the allowed amount of wine or just say sod it and eat pate, I imagine the reward I'll get at the end, a healthy baby.

I feel bad for saying this, but you DO need to mature. I don't know anyone who is pregnant (whatever their age or circumstances) who hasn't needed to mature when they got pregnant! Suddenly you are responsible for another life, and one that is completely helpless. Anyone who is completely prepared for that before pregnancy is ... miraculous!

I have namechanged for this. You are very brave to come on and admit that you are pregnant and having trouble giving up, can see you are having a hard time so thought I would give you my experience.

I smoked all the way through my pregnancy. My baby was born only slightly early very small for dates. There was no warning about low birth weight until very late on or it might have made me give up. The placenta was described as 'slightly gritty'. I did ask if my smoking was to blame and the midwifes said 'possibly' it's hard to say. Emotionally I was very stressed throughout my pregnancy.

I can honestly say that my child has not had any illnesses to speak off. I have read threads on here blaming maternal smoking for all sorts of ailments and worse. Low intelligence etc. My child is highly intelligent.

If I was pregnant again, I would try my hardest to give up. My experience was quite a few years ago and it wasn't demonised as much as it is nowadays. Good luck with giving up. I would suggest having the mindset that you can smoke again after the birth, by then you might not want to. I still smoke btw .

Forthisonly

I'll say the same thing I said to hotbox. You were lucky. One anecdote of a child not being affected by a smoking mother does not mean it is safe to smoke. Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risks described previously. If you do not experience any of those consequences then you and your child are lucky.

Would you really have been persuaded to give up if you knew about low birth weights? Why didn't the other risks persuade you to give up?

Sorry if people find this offensive but it's what I believe - as a smoker - smoking while pregnant is pathetic, weak and selfish. I can't understand how even one cigarette can give you a bit of pleasure while you are pregnant. And if we don't smoke to enjoy it then why do we

If we only smoke to relieve the craving of wanting a cigarette - then cold turkey or NRT will be absolutely successful. The thing is that pregnant women must still enjoy it, and that baffles me.

Re low birth weight - my mate works in early years child protection and recently did some training where they covered smoking in pregnancy.

She told me that they used some research which showed scans of babies while mothers were smoking. The babies were actually grabbing hold of the umbilical cord effectivley blocking the flow, when the mothers were smkoing, hence the low birth weight.

Made me very

OMG ceasar04 thats awful. It drives me nuts that so many people on here try and justify smoking whilst PG. This thread has made unbelievable reading. People know the risks but insist on putting their desires for smoking ahead of the health of their babies. Im sure it is hard to give up. I found it hard to give up my daily glass of wine, but I did. I didnt see a choice. Its not about me, its about my baby. You wouldnt fill a babies bottle with wine and you wouldnt blow smoke into their face...so someone tell me why there are people out there still justifying it and making excuses. If ceasars04 post doesnt put off all the smokers out there, I truly dont know what will. Its brought tears to my eyes, the thought of those tiny babies trying to defend themselves against their own mothers stupid habit!

I know,ceasar04 actually really shocked me. That is very upsetting if correct.

If that doesn't stop you smoking then God knows what will.

Charleney, congrats on your pregnancy and for coming on here for advice. I hope you don't find it too awful giving up!

I only wanted to add: beware of anecdotes about individuals smoking in pregnancy and their children not being harmed. About a year ago, my hubby and I were subjected to a woman going on and on about having smoked all through her pregnancy and it not having had any effect on her little boy. It turned out that said little boy had been in and out of hospital all his life with respiratory problems and the mother had never made the connection between that and her smoking.

Charleney

as my teachers always said "there is no such thing as a stupid question" and I honestly think you have EVERY RIGHT to ask questions!

I'm saddened by the emotional manipulation being used by some of the correspondents on this thread.

I can only assume that the advice is correct and it is best not to smoke during pregnancy.

HOWEVER many women do smoke during pregnancy, especially back in the "old days".

Its just that, these days, there is such a taboo surrounding it that you're screamed at for even asking 'why?' or 'what is the reason?'

I just want to say good luck in your quest for information.

Pip

PS. Before any Mumsnetters howl me down, I just want to add that I'm a non-smoker. I'm just standing up for women's rights to THINK and ASK.

Perhaps OP should read a book or a newspaper now and again. She seems awfully unaware of a basic issue.

I have no problem with people asking questions, but I cannot stand the arguement of 'I'm too young and I don't know any better'.

That is a load of crap.

Hi all mummies,
I have just joined the site and quite scared to post this due to some of the comments I have read. Please be GENTLE!! I am 33 years old and have just found out I am pregnant, I am around 4 weeks. This has come as a huge shock and completed unplanned, my partner and I have been together for four years and due to many reasons we are separating. I am in the process of moving out of our home and starting again with very little. I know this is the right thing to do however hard it is. However I found out I was pregnant a week ago, I am scared, shocked and not sure what to do. I have a son who is 18 next year (yes i was a very young mum) I am in almost the same situation on my own, no family and little savings. I am currently not working due to mental health problems. I have always wanted another baby and the thought of never having another makes me very sad. I had very different ideas in my head how this would happen, I imagined myself to be happy and settled with a partner, my mental health improved and back at work, not taking medication (currently on 225mg venlafaxine), having stopped smoking (yes I am a smoker desparately trying to stop, which I am finding very hard), having money in the bank etc. This is not the situation I am in totally the opposite. I have spent the last week researching and reading every piece of information I can find to help me come to a decision. I want what is best for the baby, it has been suggested by many that the best course of action would be for me to have a termination. The thought of this breaks my heart, and I am now on here sharing my story with strangers due to feeling so alone and having no one to turn to. That in itself makes me feel vulnerable.

Emotionally, physically I am not in a strong position. I have been allocated a council house which needs decorated, carpeted etc and I don't have much let alone able to provide everything a baby will need. Am I being selfish in even considering keeping the baby? The father of the child who is a good man, just not good for me and can't make me happy feels we should stay together for the baby's sake (this is not an option, I did this for 15 years for my first son thinking it was best) if we are not together he feels the best thing to do is have an abortion for mysake and the babys.
Since finding out I am pregnant I have contacted my G.P, my pyschiatrist, all info on the net, books and studies with available data on medication effects.
The G.P has given me 2 weeks to think about what I am going to do. he has cut my medication to 150mg to which I am having withdrawal night sweats, dizzy spells, headaches etc. Do I return to 225mg?
The info available is confusing on the venlafaxine, contradicts itself.
I was informed a home birth would be out of the question and not permitted due to the baby going to suffer withdrawal from the meds and breast feeding would not be allowed. I had a terrible time having my son I was 15 years old and wasw treated very badly in the hospital, I wanted (if safe of course) to have a home birth the next time I had a baby.

I did not breastfeed my son and wished to try and breastfeed any other babies I had.
I am a smoker and told my G.P how worried I am about this, I have cut down and feel guilt for each cigarette I smoke, the more stressed and worried I get the more I want to reach for a cigarette. The G.P said he would not recommend nicotine patches and I was just to cut down. I will struggle going cold turkey and before anyone berates me there is no need I know I should not be having any cigarettes.
I will blame myself if there is anything wrong with the baby (I was smoking like a lum until I found out I was pregnant) my son has packed his job in, the relationship ending etc I was under a lot of stress.

This pregnancy is completely unplanned and I am overwhelmed by it all and everything else that is going on.
I know only I can decide what I am going to do, and no one can make this decision for me. If there are any mums on here who have anything in common with my situation I would be so grateful for any advice you are willing and have the time share.
I am sure there will be some negative comments to my post, honestly there is no need, you can not make me feel any worse than I already do. I am crying a lot and not sleeping, I wish this had not happened and can not believe I have fallen pregnant after all these years and never fell pregnant before. I only wish the best for the baby it is after all blameless and innocent in all of this.
If you have taken the time to read this post thank you.

Hi mzundastood,

Gosh, you really do have a lot on your plate at the moment, don't you? No wonder you're stressed. But I do think it would be better to start your own new thread about all the issues you have, because it seems so much more complicated than just stopping smoking. You can just cut and paste your post above.

By the way, people do tend to get very het up about smoking in pregnancy and Mumsnet often has a very - erm - robust posting style. Just ignore the aggressive types who love kicking people when they're vulnerable and take the positive vibes and good advice. All the best.

I was a smoker until I found out I was pregnant. I've strangely found it rather easy, just thinking of baby getting those nasty chemicals in it's system was enough for me. Not looked back since thankfully, and now I'm 10 weeks

Good luck, and for what it's worth I think you're brave asking the question.