Struggling with smoking

[Dee13]

HELP!!!
I am 11+4 and I'm really struggling to give up smoking completely.
I used to be 20-25 a day and cut down immediately after testing. I am now down to 5 a day but really REALLY finding it hard to cut these ones out.
I know I have to do, I know it's bad etc etc
All antismoking products (patches, lozenges, spray) make me ill and on top of morning sickness/nausea I can't do it.
I have been offered NHS support but it's just groups who talk! Don't need to talk, need to stop.
All advice is much appreciated!
Dx

Dee, first thing is you have done really well to cut down, so don't beat yourself up too much! When I first suspected I was pg (but hadn't done a test) a ciggie was the only thing that stopped me feeling sick!

Having said that, you are down to five a day, which is a silly number, so just drop one or two a day until you get down to nowt. Your baby needs you to stop, so do it :p

When do you smoke? Is it a habit (after meals?) that you can't break or because you physically crave the cigarette? Try to find a distraction to do instead (most people say chew gum but that didn't work for me. Going outside for long lugs of fresh air - away from the smokers! - or having a hot chocolate instead of coffee worked better) It will take a shitload of willpower and it will be crappy, but you are stronger than you think you are so just try. Even if you do one day on then one day off, each time you DON'T have a cigarette you should feel a little bit proud of yourself.

All the evidence is that it is terrible for your baby, but if you really can't get rid of those last five you aren't the only person to be smoking during a pregnancy and it doesn't mean the baby will have two heads. You just have to try your best and that is all you can do.

If you have a partner or a good friend that smokes, get them to try quitting with you, then you have the moral support and the high ground when they have one and you don't....

Good luck!

I truly sympathise. I'm 35 weeks pregnant and was also on a packet a day. I got lucky this time that smoking from 7 weeks made me really sick and I have a true aversion for smoke now, almost a phobia. The previous pregnancy I didn't get this lucky though and really struggled. The only thing that had ever helped me to give up was a book Alan Carr (not the comedian) Easy way to quit smoking. It really really works. Give it a try!
Good luck!

Please plesae do consider giving the NHS groups a go. I was very sceptical too but it was the one thing that really helped me to quit for good. I had tried giving up several times over many years using patches, gum etc but never lasted long. I then (despite my reservations) went along to a quitters group which was so much better than I imagined. I have now given up for 5 years and did not use any nicotine replacement products - just went cold turkey with the support of the group. There is something very powerful about participating in a group with a shared goal. I found it very motivating and supportive.

Good Luck

Could just be me but I found starting the day with crunchy but cornflakes and milk really helped my cravings - the sugar/milk combo for some reason really sorted me out. I wasn't pregnant then, but thought I'd pass the tip on.

Good luck - and well done so far!

I was 20 a day and stopped the day I found out I was pregnant. Deep breathing when I wanted a cig helped as did not drinking any alcohol obviously. Plus knowing that it was poison to the baby.

I really struggled too. What helped was the scan pic at the 12 week scan. Seeing that gave me the extra boost I needed to give up completely
Let us know how you get on

I had a smoking cessation midwife who would come to my house and give one-to-one support. I cut out slowly and what I found spurred me on was the carbon monoxide test she did each time. It gave me a level of the amount in my blood and it was encouraging to see it get lower and lower each time. Well done for cutting down so much, keep going - you can do it!

Going to bed with chocolates and magazines for a few days is great if you can do it, that way you can rest and take care of yourself as you might feel a bit rough for a day or two. You've done really well to cut down so much, it really isn't easy. Approach it like flu and try to sleep it off. You will feel loads better really soon.
Good luck

i completely swapped fags for chocolate. obviously chocolate isnt a healthy alternative but its better than smoking. every time i wanted a to smoke i just ate chocolate instead. worked for me better than chewing gum or something and i have now quite easily cut down on chocolate. may not be the best advice but worked for me. well done for cutting down so much already

Thank you so much for your support and advice. I had a good think and most of my cigs are habit so just need to break that. Driving is my trigger so I have stocked up on chewing gum in the car and hoping that works.
Just talking about the struggle has helped and knowing the support is out there.
I have only had 1 today so far and hated it so hopefully mindset is changing.
12 week scan on Friday which should give me the extra push I need
Dx

Well done! Hating that cigarette is a very good sign. Not everyone manages to go cold turkey and you've already cut down a lot. Perhaps you can have one every day for the next couple of days, then one every 2/3 days. It won't be hard to quit altogether once you've managed to cut down so much, I bet that by this time next week you'll be smoke free.

Good for you, you've cut down a lot already. I managed to stop once I was down to 5 a day as well (wasn't pregnant though). I had to change my lifestyle however - stay away from friends who smoke, keep out of the pub because that was a trigger (although this might be less of an issue these days). Think how good you will feel and how healthy both you and your baby will be when you have finally cut it out, which I am sure you will!