Feeling guilty.......

[lynn7300]

Oh im so weak and annoyed with myself....im 28 weeks pregnant....and used to smoke less than 10 a day when i found out i was pregnant i stopped.....now i cant get it out of my head.....and for the past few days have had 1/2 a day....i have bought gum and chewing that.....i know all the dangers....and have a little boy already so im constantly tired and on the go but once hes gone for a nap....the urge comes....i have tried to keep busy the house is like a show house and started baking just to keep busy....any advice....

When I gave up smoking I lapsed at around 6months after - you just gotta hold off, the urge WILL go away!

I also found the nicorette inhalers really helpful, when I first gave up I had to make myself believe that if I needed to smoke, that Was the only thing I could have, which made it easier because they arn't particularly nice (I found nicoteen was really fishy tasting on it's own) only took about 3 days for me to stop then.

Keep your self busy but make sure you take moments to breathe deeply (which is one of the things your body craves when you are stressed because it's really calming, and its something you do automatically when smoking). It will be frustrating, but believe me if you give in now it'll just creep back!

Be strong, you will be absolutely fine x

I should also say, incase it helps, I found things like drawing/sewing etc helped when I stopped for a moment between jobs- they keep your hands busy and because of the concentration I tended to forget about other things going on around until I was busy again.

Think you did really well to give up in the first place!!! Top effort!! Don't beat yourself up - a lapse is a lapse - you have just got to flick that switch in your head again to stop and you have proved already that you can do this!!! Just by posting this thread you have already made a commitment - take a deep breath and be strong - you have already done it once!!! good luck x

Ok - two things:

1. you've done really well to get this far
2. you have got this far and you can go further.

Really, you've made incredible progress. So listen to sleepybump - acknowledge the craving but try not to let it beat you.

You have made huge progress - don't deny that!

thanks everyone xxxx

I've only just found out I am pg out of the blue (9 weeks, we think) and up until then I smoked less than 10 a day but have done that - and enjoyed it! - for the past fourteen, fifteen years. The past few days I've been on the nicorette a few times a day and have had one in the evening, and that one has been making me feel hugely guilty as well... But the thing is, smoking is incredibly addictive and it's not something a lot of people can give up overnight.

As everyone else has said, you've done so well to give up in the first place and to give up for so long. Having the odd one or so is a lapse but definitely don't beat yourself up about it. At the moment I'm trying to focus on every cigarette I haven't smoked, as every one does a little more good for the baby. Don't be annoyed with yourself and don't get stressed about it, but what I'm finding helpful at the moment is to concentrate on the guilty feelings as I am having that one cigarette, as they are slowly starting to put me off and that can only be a good thing.

Focus on how well you have done so far, and good luck! xxx