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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.

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shmoz · 09/05/2011 10:43

Took me ages to quit, I was about 5mths pg (I know I know) - I kept trying to cut down but the more I tried the more I obsessed and ended up smoking more than I did before I got pg .

Something just clicked tbh - I picked a day to do it, chucked out all smoking paraphenalia, and reminded myself that there was a little baby growing inside me and that if anything bad happened (mc, low birth weight, complications, cot death etc) I would never know that I didn't directly cause it and would have to live with the guilt.

I've smoked off and on (more on) over the last 20yrs but I don't think I will ever go back to it - DS is 5mo, I don't want him exposed to smoke, I don't want him to ever see me smoke, I'm an older mum (40) and I want to be as healthy as I can for his sake aswell as mine, and most important of all I don't want him to ever be a smoker.

Take all the support you can get. Good luck, you can do it!

MrsChemist · 09/05/2011 11:37

I quit when pregnant. Last cig I had was just before I tested. I'm very lucky that I found it not too difficult. Every time I craved one, I just shook myself and said, 'tough shit, you can't have one,' then I went and busied myself with something else.
It also helped that DH would have gone ballistic at me.
Haven't had one since and it's great.
Good luck with giving up!

Flowerydems · 09/05/2011 12:04

I was smoking up to 5 a day, never more but I felt really guilty about it. I posted about it here too and got some good advice. Allan Carr didn't really work for me but I was struggling with the concept of being pregnant and was so sure they were going to find an empty sac that I think I just couldn't quit.
Someone on here said that they had one or 2 a day until their scan and that was the factor that stopped them. That's totally happened for me too. I had my scan on Friday and haven't even been tempted since. Seeing the little bouncy baba sitting there trying to eat it's hand was more than enough.

Hope you get on ok.

leopardprintmum · 09/05/2011 18:02

I unknowingly smoked about 5 a day through the first 4 weeks...stopped immediately but then buckled under huge amounts of stress (baby is a "surprise") & have smoked about 6 since...(i'm 8 weeks). I feel dreadfully guilty & cross with myself. Found the advice on here hugely helpful...thanks ladies.

SilveryMoon · 09/05/2011 18:10

I didn't quit.
I tried to a few times with ds1, but never managed it.
I was very lucky though, both ds's were born within a week of their due dates. Ds1 was a big baby, and ds2 about average.
It is hard to quit, but you will feel so much better for it (not that I'd know).

Goodluck in quitting, am sure you will manage it.
Folow all the advise you've been given above, is all sound.
I've only posted to (don't know how to word it) help you not completely beat yourself up if you have one every now and again.

Original poster

FirstTimeMam2011 · 15/05/2011 22:09

Hi ladies, thanks again so much for all the advice.
I managed to quit on Tuesday, and just using the nicotine gum. And have stayed off them, even went out on the weekend and had not a single fag, or drink. But this evening of all evenings I gave in and had one.

My doc has told me in no uncertain terms to quit. Just dont smoke he says. Think of the baby. He told me all the risks, but then told me that its only in the last 20 years or so that women have been advised to not smoke while pg. And that cigs have more chemicals and toxins in them nowadays then they did back in the 70's and earlier.

I guess it still has not sank in that I'm actually pg. I never imagined I would ever smoke if pg. But now I am its difficult to realise it.

I'll keep on trying to stay off them.

Thanks again to everyone, and SilveryMoon your words mean alot, I will try to not beat myself up too much over the odd one.

OP posts:

Bogeyface · 15/05/2011 22:36

Firsttime, think of it this way....

You didnt fail to quit when you had a ciggie tonight, and it doesnt mean you are a smoker again. You are a non smoker who happened to have a cigarette. tomorrow is another day, dont wake up assuming that because you had one tonight that you must now smoke tomorrow, take it one day, or even one hour at a time. At my worst craving I took it half an hour at a time, promising myself I would get to half ten, then eleven and so on. It broke it down into managable chunks. Saying "I wont smoke today" seemed to big a challenge when I first quit, but saying "I wont smoke before lunch" say, seemed less of an impossible task!

And every day you DONT smoke is a win and a good thing for your baby :)

Strotters · 15/05/2011 22:37

Yes, I was smoking until I found out I was pregnant. Quit straight away. You've just got to do it as if anything awful happened, you'd always be blaming yourself in the back of your mind and torturing yourself ....

So don't give yourself any reason for that - you've just got to get on and stop immediately. Use that thought to make you give up.

Good luck.

S x

Original poster

FirstTimeMam2011 · 15/05/2011 22:46

Bogey, thats been working for me so far, just going hour by hour. And if really bad, then popping a nicotine gum. This evening was just a blip. You are right, I'm a non-smoker who just had one. I'll stay positve.

Thanks Strotters, I'll keep focused.

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supadupapupascupa · 15/05/2011 22:56

with DS1 I quit no problem - straight away.

I'm 4-5 weeks. Found out last wed. It's killing me. I've been an on off smoker for about 5 months. I had my last cig yesterday morning and haven't stopped eating. I hope the worst is over!

I carry around the gum, realised that although patches work they give you a constant supply and i need to QUIT not prolong the agony. Not used the gum yet though. Hoping I don't have to.

Wanna hold hands FTM ? WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Original poster

FirstTimeMam2011 · 15/05/2011 23:07

/grabs Supadupa's hand !

Thanks Supadupa! I find the gum is really helpful. I'm using the gum thats 2mg and is supposed to whiten your teeth at the same time. I think its called Icy White.

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supadupapupascupa · 15/05/2011 23:22

ooh that sounds cool! I've using up left over bits from years ago

Worst side effect............ stomach upset. it's really set off my IBS and i'm quite sore. Hopefully temporary............

Another day over with :-) fresh start tomorrow!

I'm hopefully making my docs app tomorrow, will be interesting to see what they say/what help there is....... I'm hoping it all seems more real and really focus's my willpower!

pregnantmimi · 16/05/2011 02:19

Hi I smoke before I was pregnant the best bit of advice is to stay away from people who smoke when you can smell it!! and be tempted I found it much easyer to stop when no one was smoking around me. If you cant stop at least cut down its better to cut down if you cant stop maybe just having one only when you feel you have too. It makes me feel calmer too having a packet in the house and having the mindset that they are there is I have to have one even thou I dont it still makes me feel better although I have been feeling depressed dont think this is down to quitting smokingxx

theillustratedmum · 16/05/2011 02:27

Not sure if anyone else has suggested it but take up knitting. It keeps your hands busy so you don't smoke and you can make lots of cute stuff for the baby :)

Good luck x

Bogeyface · 16/05/2011 09:03

illustratedmum.....good idea! I found that knitting, sewing and crocheting really helped, that and playing tetris on the kids DSes!

Marwoir · 16/05/2011 10:42

I smoked for ten years before I quit when we were trying to conceive - had my last one about a week before I got pregnant. Had tried to quit lots of times before but the only thing that really worked for me was Allen Carr - just wanted to reinforce what others have said here, can't recommend it highly enough (I actually enjoyed stopping smoking rather than feeling deprived). It's so worth it. Good luck!

nunnie · 16/05/2011 10:56

I stopped within a week of finding out I was pregnant, I smoked 20+ a day, but for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to smoke once I knew.
I was told by my midwife that I would either take it back up once I was in labour or just after the birth, apparently most people do. This just made me more determined if I am honest. and my DD is 4 in 3 weeks and I have not smoked since being 6 weeks pregnant with her.
It can be done, and there are support groups and the midwife should be able to give you details of local ones. I didn't use patches or anything just sucked on boiled sweets (suprised I still have teeth left).
Good Luck

pregnantmimi · 16/05/2011 13:04

Allyn Carr book is fabxx

ladylola24 · 16/05/2011 23:54

i am 16 weeks and still smoking 2 a day but am ready to give up now...the guilt is worse than the pleasure of the fags

supadupapupascupa · 17/05/2011 08:20

FirstTimeMam2011 how is it going? Are you coping?

I've not had anything since Sat and over the worse I think. Had the pregnancy confirmed at the docs yesterday and there is a local team who can prescribe patches etc. I have the number at the ready in case i need it!

I am a right grumpy cow though, and am eating everything in site!

supernannyisace · 17/05/2011 13:51

I quit straightway. However - same as previous poster - I hated the smell of cigarettes by then anyway. So, it was easy to give up for me.

Good luck - your GP will be able to help you to give 'em up. There is a lot available nowadays.

Original poster

FirstTimeMam2011 · 20/05/2011 16:07

Supa, I am still quit, thankfully. This week I've not had any major cravings so have not used any nicotine gum or anything.

But having another worry right now, I posted in the miscarriage forum as i am so worried i am miscarrying. Started spotting Monday and now bleeding heavier.

Feeling totally confused and wondering if my not quitting smoking sooner caused this.

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