stopping smoking in pregnancy

[froubylou]

First of all I am starting this thread to hopefully recieve some support and also share my experiances with others who are stopping smoking whilst pregnant. I know the risks of smoking whilst PG to my bean which is why I am stopping. Not only for the bean but also for me and the rest of my family.

Please don't judge me or anyone else who tries and fails to quit. Its the hardest thing to do (have done it before) and although the baby is a major incentive the ups and downs of PGcy will make this emotional roller coaster even more emotional.

I am currently 10+2. I did stop 3 years ago for almost a year whilst TTC, then when no BFP came our way started again after one particularly cruel AF hid for 3 days before springing herself on me. I have no excuse other than that for starting again.

However we got our (surprise) BFP 6 weeks and 1 day ago. During that time I have told myself I will stop smoking just as soon as I get to 10 weeks. Stopping by the time you reach the end of the first trimester will give my baby the same risks to certain conditions as those babies whose mothers never smoked whilst pg.

I should have had the strength to stop with my BFP but I didn't. But that time has passed now and all I can focus on is stopping now to give my baby the best possible chance.

I had my last cigarette at 5am this morning. I got up for a wee and thought I may as well get started straight away with stopping so came downstairs and smoked the bloody thing. Slapped on my patch and went back to bed. So far I have been smoke free for almost 4 hours.

The craving to smoke is terrible. I have headache (from the patch I think) and just want to sit on my back door step and have a fag with my morning cup of coffee. Instead I am on here telling all you MNers about my plans to stop. Writing it down and recording my feelings will help me through the next few weeks I think.

I have the StopSmoking woman coming to visit me next tuesday. I will then get any patches or 2nd line products free during my pregnancy and hopefully lots of support.

I will keep this thread updated as much as I can, hopefully with tales of the cravings and how I beat them each time rather than admitting I have given in.

Today I plan on cleaning all my kitchen cupboards in an attempt to stay busy and focused and nothing tastes as vile as a bleachy fag anyway.

Please feel free to share any stories you have about stopping smoking, your failures and success's on this thread. Please don't judge anyone on here who struggles to stop smoking whilst PG, and to be honest I know all the facts so I won't benefit from having them repeated at me.

hi well done! have you read the allen carr book 'easyway to stop smoking' it talks in the book about pregnancy and how the pressures of pregnancy make it a harder time to quit-but it is possible. its good that you have some support from the stop smoking woman.

I gave up 12 weeks ago. i am not preg or ttc. i used and still use an e cigarette, i also had patches. its been hard, especially the first week- i got through a lot of boiled sweets that week! i also used rescue remedy (is this safe to use whilst preg?) when i had strong cravings.

things will get easier in just a few short days, stay strong and again well done

First if all good luck op. I stopped smoking 2 years ago before we started to ttc. Patches etc didn't work for me I ended up with stotting headaches, so I ended up using nothing but every time I had a craving a sooked on a boiled sweet instead. It might sound daft but I worked for me, the fact that I am as stubborn as a mule too! My poor DP as I was an emontional rollercoaster happy one min, crying the next, snappy too. But I have to say that I feel so much better now for stopping and honestly don't miss it now that I'm totally over it. Keep busy at your usual ciggy times. For ne the hardest moments were with my morning cuppa and after my tea at night. Just focus on the end goal and in sure you'll get there! When silly little things get on your nerves and annoy you so much you could screams and run for the nearest shop selling cigs come on here and vent!
Lots of luck to you, and enjoy cleaning out the kitchen cupboards haha!

You may already know this, but I think the thing to keep in mind is: the first 3 days are the worst. Agony. The first week is still pretty bad. Then after that, it gets better. So try to focus on just getting through this week for now.

I quit cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant. Before that I smoked a pack a day for almost 20 years. I sort of lost my mind for that first week (was also very sick and it was very hot, just awful) but I was surprised that after that I really didn't have any cravings.

I don't know about the patches and things... are they safe to use when you're pregnant? Anyway I don't know anyone who has quit successfully using them, everyone I know who quit either did cold turkey or through the Allan Carr book (which is supposed to work really well).

I'm not going to give you a hard time but do remember that you have to quit, it's not an option -- it's all about willpower and if you tell yourself that you have no choice, you will get through it better.

DB, I am focusing right now on getting through the next 2 weeks to my scan which is exactly a fortnight today. If I can get through that I know I will do it.

You can use the patches (but only the 16 hours ones) whilst pregnant. When I stopped a few years ago I used them for 6 weeks them switched to nicotene gum, then normal gum. I found it easier to not use anything after those first weeks to be honest as everytime I became aware of the patch it reminded me that I was trying to quit if you see what I mean? But I know I need something to begin with.

I have just ordered the Allan Carr book to my kindle. Ty for the recommendation, willing to give anything a go!

Hi to all. I was a smoker before i got my bfp nearly 40 weeks ago! I did manage to quit straight away cold turkey but am by no means saying its easy, its bloody hard and have had cravings throughout my pregnancy. Just want to say a congratulations on your bfp OP, and i really do wish you the best of luck . Give yourself a pat on the back everytime you resist the temptation to smoke, and surround yourself with treats that you can have! Keeping busy is also good but remember that youre pg so having a rest with nice snacks is also needed

Good luck, you can do it!

Hi OP. What helped me in those first few hellish days was to take myself out of routine. Obviously it can't be done with some things, like work etc but it really helped.

I used to smoke in the house, so I spent as much time out and about as I could (it was the weekend) and it distracted me and I wasn't where I usually smoke. The car was another trigger for me, so I made sure I had a polo to much on during the car journey. At work where I was used to going out for a break I would stay in or go somewhere I wouldn't usually, just so I didn't have my brain reminding me of smoking. An awful lot of smoking, when you look at it, is habitual. I can't tell you how many times I lit up as soon as I got in the car, no matter how long ago my last cigarette was.

What also helped me was separating the smoker/addicted part of my brain and the rational part of my brain. Every single time I craved a cigarette I told myself "no, that's the addiction talking and the addicted part wants a cigarette, but the other part doesn't. Don't do it". If that makes sense.

I used stop smoke pregnancy support when I quit. I was very sceptical and didn't think talking about my feelings was going to help, but my god it did! I set my quit date, used the patches and I haven't had a cigarette since then, which is nearly two years ago and I never want to go back. I really didn't think I could do it but I did and you can too.

Good luck

Just wanted to say well done for deciding to stop, froubylou. I haven't smoked for over 5 years, but it was tough stopping and you've had some great advice.

Very good ideas to set yourself small/medium goals (like getting to your scan), and doing things out of routine. I would also say get yourself some nice treats in--good food, some nice bubble bath maybe? I went for lots of walks, and if I was at home and had a bad craving I sometimes jumped around and 'shook myself out' for a few seconds (maybe be gentle with that!). Basically, distraction, distraction, distraction, until the craving subsides!

You really really will reach a time when you don't crave or miss smoking, I promise.

Well done fir making this decision. You sound extremely determindd!

No I don't work for Alan Carr.... but he is a genius IMO. The book is excellent - but also the company does courses, which give you a guaranteed money back offer if you fail and continue smoking. You are meant to smoke while doing the course and/or reading the book as it helps the mental switch to off doing it this way. Of course you can stop and read and the book without smoking too. The course - it isn't cheap but I think when you consider how much ciggies cost etc. It is infuriating they don't offer this sort of stuff on the NHS. Here:- www.allencarrseasyway.co.uk/mall/infopageviewer.cfm/AllenCarr/StopSmokingClinics

My best friend quit during pregnancy, she was very addicted and found it tough - she used e-cigarettes with zero nicotine for the first few weeks and said this helped her a great deal.

In my experience the nicotine patches often keep you in the cycle and I think the tobacco companies like this loop continuing. So be careful with them - perhaps think about e-cigarettes instead as an option? Indeed there are lots of studies that show how the simply don't work in the end. Here- www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20120229/nicotine-patches-fail-most-pregnant-smokers

I found the Alan Carr course amazing, and using the book as a top up was great. I know lots of people who quit from the book alone.

I do sympathise enormously with you - it is incredibly tough, and I am sure I am not alone in thinking you doing this thread/blog is really brave and will no doubt help other women who are in the same boat and too afraid to reach out for help for fear of the 'judges judgey' brigade. I agree with Fobbly that the triggers are the worst - i.e. morning coffee, or evening wine etc. This might sound daft but what about switching your morning drink at first to something else?

I think elsabels idea of treats is great - I wish you so much success with all this, and remember you are not an 'evil' or 'bad' person if you slip up and need a different route to quit - you are a normal person do your level best and trying your hardest. In the end that is all any of us can do - and anyone who says differently most likely lives in a glass house....

Well done for trying to quit :) best of luck with it! I would like to say though, think twice before you go for e-cigarettes because the chemicals in them aren't regulated and nobody really knows what's in them.

Thank you all so much for your messages of support.

I am a veteran (and ex moderator) on a very controversal horsey forum Teeandflapjacks so TBH was ready for the criticism of some folk on this thread lol. Have broad shoulders so can handle to odd keyboard warrior having a pop and can usually mentally punch them on the end of their smug little noses and walk away, though not in a cloud of smoke this time.

I have read the Allan Carr book this morning on my kindle. It has helped me rationalise things enormously and I am even more determined to quit now and break the cycle and control ciggies have over me. It doesn't take long to read (maybe half an hour?) and was well worth the £3.50 or so it cost.

I did think for a while about the Eciggies and know a few people who have quit using them. However for me I don't like the thought of smoking a fake fag and think it will just prolong the agony of breaking the cycle but they are better than really smoking if you are already using them and reading this thread. I too was concerned over the fact they are unregulated. If I wasn't pg and was struggling to stop using the patches etc then I would have given them a whirl. But not whilst I am PG.

So far so good today. Not had any massive cravings but know that the patch is taking the edge of things. I have stopped before using patches and eventually like someone else forget to put them on and managed so they will be my little comfort blanket for now.

Have a bag of winegums on the go and also a huge bar of fruit and nut if things get really bad. Also bizarrely I found oranges (the large ones) really helpful last time so have stocked up on those. Think its the ritual of peeling them that helps.

7 hours in and all is well so far. Gulp!

i gave up at new year after a friend of the family died of lung disease. as a result of quitting smoking i got preg, whereas i didnt before. since then i havent smoked a single fag. i wont lie, i still get cravings, but i can control them now. ive saved over 1k so far (was a heavy smoker, 20-30 a day)

Froubylou Reading the stuff - it occurred to me that the patches must then work for over half who use them, which is pretty good going when you think about it. I forgot to say, my mate who quite kept all her fag money in a jar, and then when she gave birth treated herself later to a decent handbag, and some nice bathroom smelly stuff for after the birth. I don't know what she did with the rest of it - she stopped collecting it after she had her baby. But she told me it really helped her - in case that's an idea to help you?

I currently also have a bag of wine gums on the go, very nice they are too!

Hi op, I get on best with the lozenges, it gives something to do with my mouth in place of the cigarette which really helps.

Well done op!! I quit nye at around 12 weeks/ish. Was determined anyway to do it but was delivered a massive favour by the worlds worst stomach bug/HG that lasted 2 weeks starting January 1st! So by the time I got over that I was 2 weeks smoke free and not in the slightest bit bothered! Lol. I did find in the following weeks that small nibbly things, like grapes, helped take away the boredom, along with a book to keep me focused :) x

Just wanted to say good luck and well done for trying!!
I stopped the minute I found out I was pregnant and to be honest I didn't use anything I just decided and that was that but I understand that some people struggle more.
Good luck xx

Just wanted to add my well dones and good lucks to you, OP. it's a tough thing to do!

I'm on day 11 smoke free. I decided to give up (again!) as we are TTC.

I've never tried patches, but chew gum or suck losenges when desperate.
I find drinking lots of water helps too. And this might sound odd but... a sports bottle which you have to suck on somehow replaces feeling of sucking on a cigarette for me.

I definitely think the habit is harder to break than the dependence on nicotine... good luck!

Hello! I quit smoking just after i.found out i was pg. I managed it on an.electric cig. Works wonders!! Doc and midwife have said it is ALOT better than smoking as it doesnt contain tar etc.. Its brilliant for the cravings. When u.find yourself itching for a.cigarette just have a couple of puffs on electric cig. I have cut down using the e-cig a lot too.. I.probablly have about 10 puffs a day. Its just good for taking the edge off :). Wish.u the best of luck! Xx

Want to add my good luck vibes. I also quit the day I got my bfp, but I do think about it. I also second/third/fourth the Allen Carr book - didn't work instantly, but I do think about what he says in there, e.g. 'you only smoke the next fag to return to where you were when you didn't smoke (craving wise)'. It takes some thinking through, but I haven't given in once in four weeks (despite a job I hate, which I used to tolerate by smoking every hour!)
Good luck - it's tough, but worth it. Now, at four weeks, it's not hard, just the occasional twinge, HTH.

Well done OP! Seven hours is better than no hours and congratulate yourself for each hour, then it'll turn into each day etc.

my SIL has read alot on addictions (long story) and apparently after 2 weeks the physical cravings should have gone, so if you can concentrate on making it to your scan, you'll really be on your way.
i also quit (and struggled) during pregnancy, i found the stop smoking midwife really helped, and having her testing me on a CO2 thingy gave an added incentive.
this might sound odd but with dd1 i came to enjoy the pain of the cravings in a weird kind of a way because it was like 'proof' i was doing the right thing for the baby, once i'd started to enjoy them, they didn't last so long either! best of luck

Well its 10.30pm nearly.

Am in bed and havent had a fag yet.

DP came home with a new pack and got kicked down the garden lol. Hes asked for an efag tomorrow.

His ciggies gone for a sleepover in his car up the road to avoid temptation.

Developing a lovely tickly cough though. But I know it will pass and giving my pelvic floor a good work put anyway lol.

If I sleep now until morning will have done 24 hours. Whoop whoop!

Hi froubylou! If you're reading this in the morning, well done for making it through Day 1! If you're still awake & craving - stay strong. I know it can be hell - I've done it a few times & now DP is cutting them out before PFB arrives in October & he's suffering. I've no special advice for you, except that it really does get easier.

Am beaming you nicotine-free thoughts

The cough is good! It's the first sign of alot of crap coming off your chest! Woop woop for day 1!!!.....I've spent most of the evening making slutty brownies for dh to take to work tomorrow ...*here .... Have some :) Nom!!

Morning sickness is the best remedy, its how I found out I was pregnant! Always used to have a fag on the way to work and then for some reason it kept making me want to barf! I am completely smoke free after giving it up cold turkey yonks ago, tried cutting down but that just doesn't work, don't ever plan on starting again either, good luck. Oh and I found drinking really cold water every time I had a craving helped x