Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

A troubled pregnant smoker

43 replies

Ashling · 02/05/2006 11:51

I immediately stopped smoking when I found out I was pregnant at 11 wks with no difficulty. I always knew I would never smoke if I was pregnant. I am now 27 weeks and have been sneakily smoking cigarettes at home for the last couple of weeks. The guilt is killing me and I lay awake at night worrying about what I may be doing to my baby but even that'doesn't seem to be enough to stop me. I know I am a fool and I feel like the only fool in the world but some words of wisdom, advice or similar experiences would be of help to me at this stage I am desperate.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

starlover · 02/05/2006 11:56

hi ashling, i don't smoke, so not sure I can really give you any advice...
but I did google smoking in pregnancy, and came across this, which may be helpful

\link{http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/Smoking__Pregnancy/Tips_for_stopping_smoking_during_pregnancy/\tips for stopping smoking in pregnancy}

colditz · 02/05/2006 11:58

Patches. They do work. I know it says on the packet don't use them while you are pregnant, but it has to be better than smoking. go to the gp and talk to them about tit

starlover · 02/05/2006 11:58

also a few other things that may help if you see it written in black and white:

Statistics from the United States are compelling. If all pregnant women in the United States stopped smoking, there would be an estimated 11 percent reduction in stillbirths and a 5 percent reduction in newborn deaths, according to the U.S. Public Health Service

Here are some other great reasons to stop smoking:

You're more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby

You'll be able to cope better with the birth
Your baby will cope better with any birth complication

Your baby is less likely to be born too early and have to face the additional breathing, feeding and health problems which so often go with prematurity

Your baby is less likely to be born underweight and have extra problems in keeping warm
It will be better for your baby later too as children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer later on from illnesses like asthma

You will reduce the risk of cot death for your baby

Original poster

Ashling · 02/05/2006 13:14

Thanks for the advice. I would like to know if anyone else has struggled with this like I am ?

OP posts:

waterfalls · 02/05/2006 13:19

My friend had this problem while she was pregnant, her gp advised her to cut down at a speed she felt happy with until she feels ready to stop, he claimed the stress of going cold turkey, or stoppingbefore she was ready is just as harmful to the baby, he told her to swap to mild, take fewer grags, and put cigarette out 2 thirds the way down, this was 5 years ago, and she has'nt smoked since.

chipmonkey · 02/05/2006 14:13

Ashling, now many a day do you think you're smoking? If it's less than 5, I would guess that it's probably not causing a problem but obviously none is better than 5!
My dsis did smoke during her pg, she was 19 and very stressed and found it impossible to give up and was probably smoking 10 a day. Her dd was just over 4lb and born about 3 weeks early. Most of the nurses told her it was down to smoking, one told her it was probably nothing to do with it. The slow cut-down probably sounds like your best approach.

sugarfree · 02/05/2006 14:17

I smoked through three pregnancies and had babies weighing 9lb2oz,8lb6oz and 8lb7oz.
I'm not proud of it,I was lucky to get away with it and I still think you should give up as soon as you can.
Just didn't want you to think you are the worlds worst mummy,'k?

Original poster

Ashling · 02/05/2006 14:22

I do know that I just have to stop and cannot figure out why I would put my unborn at risk the way I am. Thanks for the advice !!!

OP posts:

chipmonkey · 02/05/2006 14:29

It's an addiction, Ashling. It's not you making the decision, it's the nicotine! It's not that you're a bad person, you just have to recognise what you're dealing with.

HellKat · 02/05/2006 14:38

I sorted of smoked in my last 2 pg's (went down to 1 a day with ds1 & 2 a day with ds2). Both times the mw's & consultants said that this was alot better than stressing out over not smoking etc. I'm pg at the mo and have had the odd puff (never a whole one) and feel guilty but feel incredibly stressed at the thought of quitting. It's alot easier though now that no one smokes indoors (ever since ds2 was born). Both boys were a decent weight and have had absolutely no health problems (touch wood). It definitely have bn a different story though, I'm sure of it, if I'd smoked my normal 10 a day. Someone I knew did (sometimes even 20) and her child was the typical always had a cold, green snotty nose, chesty cough etc.
Try leaving your cigs in another room so you physically have to get them (half the time you won't be bothered to) and everytime you fancy one, think "I'll have one in a little while". Do this and before you know a couple of hours have gone by. Easiest way in the world to cut down.
Good luck hunny and please try to enjoy the remainder of your pg (I'm 21 wks).

Kelly1978 · 02/05/2006 14:43

I smoked in my first two pgs, tried really hard to give up but never managed it. I haven't smoked now for two years but I could only stop with loads of support and encouragement from my dp. I never managed it on my own, and exh was as much use as a chocolate fireguard. My dd (oldest) is fine, but my ds1 does have sn, and although there are no known links between his problems and smoking, I'll never know for sure. I jsut wish I had been able to give up sooner.

Patches are better for you than smoking, as they don't contain all the other nasties that are present in cigarettes, might be worth a try. I managed in the end with jsut support and lollipops. I'm sure if you started a quit smokign thread on here you would get loads of support.

starlover · 02/05/2006 19:10

ashling, does your local surgery run any groups for smokers who are trying to quit?
I know ours has a kind of stop smoking nurse and a clinic once a week where you go along and get some support etc etc

worrypot · 02/05/2006 19:48

Good luck Ashling, hope you manage to get off the fags. I gave up (while not pregnant though) using the Allen Carr method and it worked without too much agony. Might be worth a try.

Take care.

worrypot · 02/05/2006 19:48

Good luck Ashling, hope you manage to get off the fags. I gave up (while not pregnant though) using the Allen Carr method and it worked without too much agony. Might be worth a try.

Take care.

chipmonkey · 02/05/2006 23:47

Ashling, are you Irish?

LadyTophamHatt · 03/05/2006 07:12

I'm not a smoker, and never have been but I always wonder if pregnant smoker would blow smoke into their sleep babies face.
Imagine he/she is asleep in his/her cot or pram, Would you actively blow smoke in their face? Forthem in inhale over and over?

because thats virtually what your doing now.

sniff · 03/05/2006 08:58

with my first child I did and had crafty ones once I got to 20 weeks all the way through to the end my friend smoked all through hers I managed to give up with my second and third but as soon as I stop breast feeding and go out for a drink I start again I have dreamed about smoking in this pregnancy how sad is that!!!! so your not the only one

best of luck with stopping x

bluejelly · 03/05/2006 09:07

Allen carr's how to stop smoking the easy way is fantastic. You can smoke while reading it but I swear to god by the time you finish it you won't want to smoke again.
I struggled to give up when pregnant till I read that book. Go and buy it now

ghosty · 03/05/2006 09:30

Hi Ashling
It is great you are here asking for help. This may be a very long post but I wanted to tell you my story.

I gave up smoking the moment I found out I was pregnant with DS - and was truly amazed that I was able to without a bother. I think my morning sickness had something to do with it though.
There were two things that helped me keep off the cigarettes throughout the pregnancy.

As a smoker I knew what I was doing to my body - that smoking is bad for you and you increase your risks of all sorts of things etc. That didn't stop me smoking (by the time I was pg I had been smoking for 16 years). Once I was pregnant I felt very very strongly that it was no longer MY BODY - I had a choice to smoke but this baby didn't have a choice at all.
This is a bit weird but I visualised my baby in my stomach inhaling smoke through the umbilical cord, blue in the face and coughing and choking.

I managed to stay not smoking after he was born for as long as I breastfed him (not very long admittedly) as again I felt deep down that as long as I was breastfeeding it wasn't my body IYSWIM?

The next bit I want to say may upset you but I feel you need to hear it.

I started smoking again when DS was 3 months old and although never ever smoked around him or in the house I just carried on (probably about 10 - 15 a day - loads when he was asleep - eeew)

We decided to try for another baby and I got pregnant straight away. For some unknown reason I didn't give up. I was more morning sick than before but that didn't stop me. I cut down but smoked. DH thought I had given up but I sneaked fags when he was in bed and when he was at work
I finally stopped at about 11 weeks due to guilt. At 12 weeks I lost that baby .

I will never ever ever know if the reason I lost the baby was due to smoking or whether I would have lost it anyway BUT I sure as hell wasn't going to risk it again. After some binge smoking for a few weeks (was pretty depressed you see) I put out my last cigarette and we started trying to conceive again. This time I had given up BEFORE I got pregnant. I did the same visualisation that I did with DS's pregnancy and kept off the cigarettes.
This time I breast fed for nearly 11 months and so kept away from the ciggies. I am now still officially a non smoker (DD is 2 and 3 months old now) although I have been known to bum a couple of fags off my friend on the very very few occasions that I have been out and drunk
Sorry for the length of that ramble but I think that the fact you have come on here feeling guilty means that you really don't want to smoke but don't know how to stop. Why don't you try to visualise your baby in your tummy smoking like I did - it is very powerful.

I hope this helps a bit
g xx

oliveoil · 03/05/2006 09:36

I found out I was pregnant when on a round the world trip, so plenty of booze and fags on the agenda.

What worked for me, and it is nasty really, is imagining my baby dragging on a cigarette. The image was so awful that when I craved a cigarette - which was constant when everyone around me was at BBQ's boozing and smoking - I just imagined this image.

Have a drink of water when you crave a cigarette as well, cravings only last a few mins.

Good luck, it can be done and to be honest, has to be done.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

plummymummy · 03/05/2006 14:49

Not a smoker but just wanted to wish you luck. My mum gave up smoking when pg with me but smoked with my brother. He was born with calcium deficiency and a weak skull (every time he fell on his head it fractured)and some of her teeth went rotten. Not a proven link with smoking but smoking does prevent absorption of nutrients. Anyway, the worst thing was living with parents who smoke. She still smokes and I wish she would give up as my son is exposed to it when he visits her.

djsmum · 04/05/2006 07:36

I gave up smokeing the day i found i was pregnant as i didn't want to harm my unborn baby! Although i do know alot of people who have smoke all the way through their pregnancy and had healthy babies at the end, but i would never take that risk, better to be safe than sorry i say. And there is so much help and advice for smokers these days! :)

Bugmum · 04/05/2006 08:28

I stopped smoking about seven months before getting pregnant, using the Allen Carr book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. I read the book in a single day (the best way, I think, if you can find the time! It's very short) and didn't smoke any more after the last page. That will be three years in September. Get the women's version of the book, and it has a section in it about stopping in pregnancy. Good luck!

Tutter · 04/05/2006 08:33

please please please make the effort to get some help and stop this. won't say more as will get myself into trouble.

whiffy · 04/05/2006 09:20

I struggled to give up so know what you are going through.

What finally worked for me (after trying everything else) was reading the Alan Carr book on a Monday and going to a hypnotist on the Tuesday. I haven't smoked since and that was more than 3 years ago, and I swear I don't miss it - even when I am in all those 'key' situations (down pub with mates, after dinner, sipping on chardonnay in the garden etc etc).

Prior to that I had smoked for 20 years.

If you can't stop then you should just accept it, keep the number down as low as possible, and stop stressing. I'm fairly sure that in the Yehudi Gordon 'Birth & beyond' book (which is my bible) he says the same as Waterfalls' doctor did - better to keep in a very small intake and not stress than to try to give up and get overly upset about it. I think I recall somewhere reading that if you can't stop there was a minimal chance of causing problems to your child if you kept to below 5 a day. May have been Yehudi book, not sure. But please please please try the hypnotism even if you're a sceptic. You have no idea how liberating it is to get rid of the buggers for good.

Good luck.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread