24 weeks and still smoking! anyone else?

[mumtobe88]

I'm 24 weeks and 3 days and am still smoking. When I first discovered I was pregnant I tried to give up and managed to cut down to like 2 per day. Since then however, my husband and I got married and now we're looking for a place together and I'm back on a 20 a day habit.
Can't really use patches as I appear to be allergic to them and have braces so can't chew gum, has anyone got any ideas to help me quit?

Your MW or GP should be able to point you in the directoin of a smoking cessation programme

Your midwife should be able to refer you to smoking cessation. They have lots of advice and ideas of different nicotine substitutes you can try and offer weekly support.

I'm not a smoker so can't pretend that I know how hard it is to give it up but I wish you lots of luck. The support is out there

I used to smoke and know how hard it is trying to give up, but you must. Your baby is breathing in those fumes.

Please cut down if you can't stop completely. Maybe set yourself goals ie two cups of tea and breakfast in morning before your first one etc.

If you can't use patches or gum try the micro tab

Lots of willpower.

Seriously you need to stop

Smoking cessation

Other NTR could be an inhalator or quitmist or the tablets. Then there's
Champix but don't know the suitability or each when pregnant. But give them a ring they will help

Are electronic cigarettes safe in pregnancy? Or at least better than cigarettes?

Ask your MW to refer you to smoking cessation.

Or ask her to auscultate your baby's heart beat and light up. The shock of hearing what it does to your baby might make you stop.

I think the electric ones are ok to use, not sure on the tablets docs prescribe but the programmes they can send you on are supposed to be really good.
Good luck! Xx

I was extremely lucky that as soon as I found out I was able to quit with will power alone. I was also on a 20 a day and know how hard it is but your baby's health is worth more than a fag. I am very surprised your midwife hasn't sent you for some advice, go and see your GP and ask for help x Good luck x

Why are you still smoking? There's no excuse. Just think of your baby and stop.

Talk to your midwife, take all the help offered, read Allen Carr's stop smoking book, explore hypnotherapy if finances allow... There's lots of help out there but you need willpower. You will never be more motivated to stop smoking than you are now so seize the opportunity.

Thanks everyone, that's definitely given me some ideas.
I've tried Champix before but it made me feel really sick, this was before I discovered I was pregnant though, and I don't know if it's ok to use when pregnant!
I will ask my GP.
And yes it is my first post! How did you know?

Go to a smoking cessation programme.

And I. The mean time, far from ideal, but you could try nicotine products other than patch/gum (spray? gel?)

This will still be bad for your baby, but at least s/he will be spared the tar and some other carcinogens.

Your baby isn't breathing in the fumes obviously, but some of the toxins will get through the placenta and it decreases the oxygen in your blood making their little heart have to work harder and can damage the placenta. Also increases risk of SIDS, miscarriage, low birth weight, still birth. AND can add to the stress once delivered if the baby itself suffers withdrawals (imagine how hard your finding it to quit, you could end up with one unhappy screaming baby!) But I bet you know all that already! I didn't manage to quit completely either :( what I did do, was only smoke rollies, I'd make one and smoke a bit then leave it ready for when I needed another one later. That way, although I might have a quick fix 6 or so times a day I actually wouldn't have smoked more then 1-2 a day. I also found just the act of making it helped somehow. I also made them with less and less tobacco. Baby was a good weight and showed no ill effects, 8 days overdue, good weight and healthy placenta.
IMO you are smoking waaaaay too many, I know its much harder to quit then others think but I think you def need to cut down. I know its the last conversation you want to have but I would speak to your MW (if you can... Some are awful!) Or a good doctor? I know they are funny about what nicotine replacement you can have when pregnant too, not sure what they'd say about the old e cigarettes? I'd def speak to a medical somebody before going for any nicotine replacement stuff, and like I said, really focus on cutting down the amount. Best of luck, its incredibly hard but I'm rooting for you!

I am not sure if by asking 'anyone else' you are hoping for safety in numbers, but no-one has seemed to have given you that reassurance. Big deal if the gum etc makes you feel sick, you need to 'man up' and think of how the fumes are making your precious baby sick, and take it on the chin and live with it. Sorry if this sounds harsh, and I DO know how tough it is to give up, but I find your responses and excuses a little immature.

I quit a few months before I got pregnant - as part of a plan to get healthy to have a baby.

However you do it, 95% of it is willpower. You have to really, seriously want to stop.

I used an electronic cigarette from TECC for a month to transition but before that I'd cut it down to about 5 a day. The big moment for me was deciding that the pack I had was the very last pack I will ever buy, and I won't pinch any off friends once I've finished that pack. I never had another cigarette after that day.

From one perspective it is difficult, but once you've altered your mindset to being a non-smoker it's actually easy - you don't have to do anything, you just don't smoke.

As I'm sure you know, you're putting some very serious long term health risks on your baby which should be enough to force you to stop immediately. The guilt that you may have to face over the next 60 years due to the long term damage you are causing will be a lot harder than quitting when the pack you have runs out.

It sounds like you've got loads on, but these are all positive things (new marriage, new home together) and you need to find a way of coping with the change that doesn't include nicotine. Do you have your partner and friends support? I've never smoked but I can imagine its tough to stop. I think you definitely need to do it and asap - there's another 20 weeks your baby will benefit from not taking in the chemicals, and you won't need to face quitting while caring for a newborn. I think you'll find few people to reassure you it's ok - sadly this is one of those times when the facts all state it really isn't ok at all. Good luck x

I smoked for 8 years and managed to give up by about 20 weeks, cutting down doesn't work, I tried that and it just made me want a fat even more, I just went cold turkey and it was to my surprise very easy and I was on about 15 a day. Haven't smoked since and don't plan to ever start again

Seriously I can't believe you are so blasé about smoking during pregnancy. I gave up the day I found out I was pregnant. I can't understand why you would cut down and then increase again?! Don't you care at all that your poor little baby is just trying to survive and grow inside you and you are harming them with every cigarette.

I used an electric cigarette and have been told by a doctor and two midwives that these are safe. It's been one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I have stuck to it because my baby doesn't get to choose which chemicals are passed over from me to him/her. I wouldnt blow smoke in a newborns face, and smoking during pregnancy is just as bad. I can't believe you came on here looking for others to make you feel better about what you are doing. If you care about your baby in any way please stop smoking.

I hope you manage to get the support you need to stop.

DS1 has serious breathing problems and having spent lots of time on the respitory ward it is heart breaking to see children on oxygen who have parents smoking 20 a day. It breaks my heart when DS1 is poorly, I don't think I could live with the guilt if I thought I had somehow contributed to it

When they are born and in your arms you would do anything to protect them, try and start this now if you can.