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.

Done it! 27 hours fag free.

Feckin hard this morning though. OH got up and I heard him get his stash from the car. Had a winegum instead and stuck my patch on lol.

If I can get through today I know tomorrow will be easier. And sunday easier again.

Off to look at piccys of 10 week beans to give me strength!

Well done frouby youve done so well. Good idea about looking at the pics. Plan youre day out again and concentrate on making each part of it without a cigarette.

Good Luck OP! When I was having some difficult moments in pregnancy I used to youtube ultrasound videos of whatever week of my pregnancy I was in. It really lifted my spirits and made me happy. Maybe it will help you too.

Best of luck!

Well done Frouby! You can do this!

I concur with Allen Carr - I started smoking at the age of 13 and by the time I hit my early 20's was on at least 20 a day (how many are in a pack now?) - to say I was a dedicated smoker was an understatement.

Anyway, I vowed to quit after my 30th as I was getting unhappier the closer I got to 30 a day. And so, I read the Allen Carr book... twice. I read the book and quit on 15 December 2009 and haven't smoked since. I can attest to the power that is the Allen Carr method. I didn't have cravings, weight gain or anything like that. I was scared that it would be hard but it actually wasn't and was infinitely easier than going cold turkey!

Well done for your honesty, and good luck with quitting!

Well.

I failed last night. In my defence (though there isn't one really) I felt shocking all day with really bad hayfever which I don't normally get. Mahossive sneezes I was paranoid would dislodge the bean, I pulled my back trying to cross my legs at the same time as sneeze so I wouldn't piddle my pants, eyes and nose streaming and a banging, banging headache.

Remembered (from last time I stopped) that there have been some studies (probably commissioned by the tobacco companies!) that have shown that stopping smoking increases allergens. It does due to the fact you are burning off the tiny hairs in your nasal passages and airways that are responsible for producing histamines which causes the allergens.

The logical part of me knows I won't suffer serious consequences from hayfever but I was so bloody miserable when OH came in from work I nicked a ciggie.

Did I enjoy it? No. It tasted of chemicals and made me wheeze and cough. I felt incredibly guilty and disappointed with myself and it didn't (predictibly) ease any of the hayfever symptoms. Why I thought it would I have no idea. Probably trying to trick myself.

So in a way I'm glad I had it as 1) it didn't help with the hayfever. made it worse if anything because now I was wheezing as well as sneezing 2) I didn't enjoy it and 3) I won't be sat there wondering what I am missing out on.

Off to chemist as soon as they open for a more traditional way to treat hayfever. Patch back on along with a new found determination.

Really busy today so won't have time to feel sorry for myself or google for reasons to have a ciggie. Got a dirty grey pony to make sparkly white for a pony show tomorrow, 2 lots of show gear to get ready, a show bridle to dig out and clean (god only knows where that is!) and a BBQ to go to. Sigh.

Have read through all comments but well done for quitting OP. I was a 20 a day smoker and I quite cold turkey as soon as I got our BFP. The BFP was the only incentive I needed because I just thought it was unfair for me to force nicotine and all the other chemicals onto my unborn baby. I would go ape shit if I ever caught anyone blowng smoke directly into my new born babys mouth/nose, so smoking was as bad in my opinion. That was a big incentive. Plus I wouldn't anyone to force me to do anything! Stopping cold turkey was hard but it was only really the first 4/5 days whilst the nicotine left my system. After that it got easier by the dy and now I don't even think about it.

Good luck in your journey...

Would your DH consider quitting along with you?

Personally I think having a baby is a good reason for BOTH parents to quit. It would make things a lot easier for you too.

DP stopping on Monday Dreaming.

Will find it a lot easier then as won't have the temptation lying around. I agreed monday would be OK for him to stop as we have a BBQ this afternoon and he will be having a drink.

I have the Stop Smoking woman (think shes a mw too) coming on tuesday. Hopefully she will be able to discuss hayfever remedies with me to make things a little easier.

Just want to say well done. I gave up smoking 4 months ago. When i was 8 wk pregnant. I had smoked at least 20 a day for 22 years. I only ever cut down when pregnant but never gave up.

I sadly lost my baby but everyone thought i would start smoking. I nearly did. I realised my babys lasting legacy would be that she stopped me smoking.

Im 5 weeks pregnant at the moment. I've got another thread on here as i have an underactive thyroid but at least i know i am doing all i can to give this little baby a chance... The guilt i felt when i mc was awful. I will never know the cause but smoking whilst pregnant in this day and age is totally unacceptable.

Best of luck...you can do this!!

My dp dosnt smoke so you are amazing to stop whilst your dp is still smoking!!!

im on 6 hours now and im starting to struggle s keep thinking about my little bean xxx

Thank God for this thread. I am nearly 9 weeks (I think) and today is my first proper day of not smoking. Not had a cigarette all day. I smoke roll-ups (not sure if they're better or worse, I guess all smoking is bad!) and the paranoia as to what effects the smoking is having on little Raspberry has been adding a huge amount of unnecessary stress to the experience. I've given up smoking before and know the first few days are the worst - keep it up Froubylou!

I'm not a smoker but I wanted to come on and congratulate all of you who are trying to quit. I can't imagine what the addiction must feel like and the strength you must need to push through it.

Well done to all of you and I hope that you all manage to give it up completely x x

I just wanted to chime in and say bloody well done.
Quitting smoking was honestly the best fucking thing I have ever done in my life. Not to sound silly but life is gorgeous being a non-smoker.

I'm glad you got the Allan Carr book. It's a great perspective changer. He's right in saying you will discover how amazing life is without cigarettes and you're not actually "giving anything up"!

I don't even think about smoking anymore. It's so boring anyway.
All the luck and congratulations on your pregnancy. Your baby doesn't need that shit in her system and neither do you x

How are you doing Op?

Am doing good.

Been more or less fag free since I started this thread.

Read the allen carr book for women which I was a bit 'hmmmm' after I read it. It makes sense but at the moment im happy with patches. If I wasn't pg I'd try it his way it's too important to me to risk it at the moment.

But when I have done the course of nrt products I will reread tthe book for inspiration.

Am 15 weeks now and having a straight forward pgy. And enjoying being fag free!

Well done op. sounds like you're doing very well :) xx

Sounds like you are doing amazingly op! But if you need an extra incentive... I smoked 20/day until the day I found out I was pregnant, inspired by pp who mentioned how much money she'd saved I worked it out for me. LO is now 2 months old, and the total is over £2400!!! I miss smoking occasionally, but most of the time I don't give it a thought - never thought I'd be here! Keep going, it gets even easier!