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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

A Question for smokers and ex-smokers

47 replies

FirstTimeMam2011 · 08/05/2011 15:02

Hi everyone, Im 6 weeks pregnant. And have been a pack a day smoker. I have tried and tried to cut down, and give up, last time I quit was last Tuesday, but picked up the smokes again on Wednesday.

I'm so stressed that i'm doing harm to the baby. And worrying non-stop that i won't be able to quit. I'm going to give it another go tomorrow morning to quit and just use nictine gum for a week.

Are there any ex-smokers out there who quit when pregnant, or did not quit at all?

So worried over this.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

bibbitybobbityhat · 08/05/2011 15:04

Yes, I quit when pregnant both times. You just have to grit your teeth and get on with it. Ask your GP or midwife for advice - you will get a ton of free support and every aid known to man.

mosschops30 · 08/05/2011 15:07

Yes i quit on all 3 of mine. I always went back to it apart from after no.3 and i have managed to keep it just socially.
I did find it easy when pg, because i was responsible for omeone else, when i smoke im just harming me, i couldnt do it to the baby.

TimeWasting · 08/05/2011 15:09

I quit when I found out I was pregnant. I'd always said that I would and I did. DH would have been very upset with me if I hadn't.
The physical cravings can be tough, but they go quickly.

Chuck out all the cigs, lighters and ashtrays, don't go outside when everyone goes out for a cig and perhaps take up a hobby to keep your hands busy in the evening.

DirtyBit · 08/05/2011 15:13

Speak to your midwife and ask her to put you in touch with a stop smoking counsellor.
Try to cut down gradually rather than just quit cold turkey - that obviously isn't working for you.
Try having a half instead of a whole each time, then reduce the amount of times you smoke per day.
It is probably better for now that you have a couple of cigs a day and manage to stay calm than subject the baby to massive levels of stress.

TheVisitor · 08/05/2011 15:16

I didn't quit, and I do wonder if my babies would have been bigger if I had done. Nicotine replacement therapy can now be prescribed for pregnant mums, which it wasn't when I was pregnant. I would urge you to try. Allen Carr has a good book out that's aimed specifically at women. I'm a non smoker now.

Original poster

FirstTimeMam2011 · 08/05/2011 15:41

Thanks everyone, I think a visit to my doctor will help me realise the seriousness of this.

I'm going to look up that bookk by Allen carr.

OP posts:

Mumswang · 08/05/2011 15:47

I stopped as soon as I got the positive test. It was hard, but I really wanted to and figured I would never have a greater incentive.

Still haven't had one 3 years later. Yes it was hard at times but my goodness I was and still am proud of myself. You've just got to get on and do it.

I made DP stop too. He was happy to although found it tougher than I did, I guess he didn't have a baby growing inside him that needed him to. But he did it

TheVisitor · 08/05/2011 16:09

The very best of luck to you. It's not easy, but if you can do it you'll be very proud of yourself.

Maybeitsbecause · 08/05/2011 16:11

I quit when pregnant. Stopped my 20 a day habit when I found out, but was having 2 or 3 crafty fags a week until I was about 14 weeks pregnant. When I started showing I realised how utterly gross it was and stopped. Haven't smoked since.

You can do it. You may need some help, though. Tell your midwife and/or GP how much you are struggling.

nailak · 08/05/2011 16:14

i think you will find there are quite a few women who didnt quit while prenant, but cut down considerably to one a day etc, but dont want to post.

buttonmoon78 · 08/05/2011 16:30

Good luck.

I've not smoked for years but I know plenty of those who nailak's describing. I also know of someone who smoked like a trooper through all 3 of hers. They were all early and all small. 3rd was 5 weeks early and v v small, in scbu, breathin probs, jaundice, you name it.

Go to the gp, ask for a lecture and take every piece of help you're given.

And truly, good luck. I know it's really, really hard to give up.

Original poster

FirstTimeMam2011 · 08/05/2011 20:00

Thanks all, I appreciate your responses. Ill certainly give it my best shot tommorrow. Wish me luck.

OP posts:

PelvicFloorsOfSteel · 08/05/2011 20:06

The first day is the worst, if you can get through that it does get loads better really quickly. I found the trouble with cutting down is that you still get loads of cravings and the slightest bit of stress will knock you back. Once you've totally given up it stops being stressful not smoking.

Very good luck for tomorrow

Bogeyface · 08/05/2011 20:27

If you tell your MW or doctor they will refer to the Time to Quit people. You will get NRT for free and you can combine patches with gum or inhalors or spray. And you get support too, you can even do it over the phone so you dont have to schlep to the clinic each time.

good luck :)

bibbitybobbityhat · 08/05/2011 20:39

My mother smoked 20 or 30 a day all the way through her pregnancy with me. I was born only a week or so early but weighed 5lb 10 oz.

clairefromsteps · 08/05/2011 21:19

Has morning sickness kicked in yet? I was a 10-15 a day smoker but MS made me so queasy I couldn't even face having a cigarette. Take all the help that the doc will offer you, too.

Good luck!

cowboylover · 08/05/2011 21:29

You have had great advise above and everything I could think to recommend so just wanted to wish you good luck and use every bit of support out there

lilly13 · 08/05/2011 21:33

Hi, I quit a year before trying to TTC, but it was very tough to do. The only thing that really helped me was Alen Carr's book and CD. I would strongly recommend you get it asap. Take a day off and read, read, read.. then listen to the CD. You can quit. You can do it. Wishing you lots of luck!

mueslimuncher · 08/05/2011 21:38

You can do it! I was in serious denial when I found out I was pregnant. One minute I was a heavy drinker and smoker, next minute I had to give it all up. I cut right back but still had a few a day for weeks.
Once my son arrived I was horrified that I did something that could harm him. Really regret it.
Nicotine gum helped me lots.

Casmama · 08/05/2011 21:40

I quit as soon as I found out I was pregnant and had been smoking 20 a day up until that point. The only advice I can give is just be really strict with yourself. I tried to picture me blowing smoke into my newborns face and the fact that smoking while pregnant wasn't any better. I also kept reminding myself that parenthood was going to involve some sacrifices and that if I couldn't even sacrifice a dirty smell habit that cost me a fortune then it didn't say much about the sort of mother that I was going to be.
The good news is that when you stop you will feel great about the fact that you are doing this important thing for your baby.
Good luck and remember don't make excuses for yourself - you choose to smoke every single cigarette and you can choose not to smoke each and every one.

buttonmoon78 · 09/05/2011 06:49

Good luck today - you can do it, even if it's a step at a time.

sittinghippo · 09/05/2011 10:20

Good luck for today - do let us know how you get on.

I cut down as much as I could manage for the first few weeks, although sometimes that meant I had bad days and would still smoke 10-15.
It was when I had my scan and saw the baby inside me wriggling about, it all suddenly became very real, and I quit that day. In the week leading up to scan I had manged to cut down to 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening so it wasn't too hard to go that final step.

piratecat · 09/05/2011 10:23

Not sure how, but i just stopped. took about a week after i found out. I guess i was lucky in that I found i just could. It was just a no no for me.

It must be hard if you are struggling, i think you just have to think 'baby' everytime you get the urge. i hope you do ok.

JeremyVile · 09/05/2011 10:24

Yes I quit when pregnant.
I was very lucky though, one of my first symptoms - before I'd even tested - was finding the smell and tast utterly foul and overpowering. So I stopped with no qualms at all.
I do feel for pg women struggling to give, how do you just switch off the cravings?
Good luck though, I'm sure you can do it. And get as much support -GP etc - as you can.

wubblybubbly · 09/05/2011 10:32

Yes, I quit once I found out I was pregnant. Like others have said, I always told myself that I would stop at that point. I didn't find it difficult, I found it totally liberating. I made a list of all the positive things about being a non smoker and stopped thinking about it as giving something up and started thinking about it as reclaiming my life!

The Allen Carr book is great at exploding a lot of myths about smoking and chucking the habit.

Good luck OP.

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