smoking - 5 weeks

[sodapopple]

hi everyone

just a little worried, i've just found out i'm pregnant and i would be 5 weeks today, i am a smoker and up until last monday smoked around 20+ a day so quite heavily. i've been trying to cut down since then anyway and have been smoking around 4-5 a day since then

i am now not going to smoke at all obviously, but i was just wondering if it's likely too late now that i've smoked for the past three weeks and that probably a lot of damage has been done already? if i stop smoking now will my chances of negative effects from smoking be minimised?

does anyone have any more info about this?

i know it is generally a case by case basis and there's no guarantees, but any info/experiences would be great.

thanks in advance!

Every cigarette you don't smoke is good for your baby and if you stop completely at 5 weeks, I doubt that that much damage is done already. The baby doesn't have a placenta yet.

I was still smoking occasionally until I got my bfp, so you're not alone

In the early days (up to week 4) baby hasn't even implanted in your uterus, so isn't getting any nutrition from you or sharing your blood. I hope this gives you some comfort!

Best thing to do is give up completely now, start on your folic acid and vit d tablets, and call your doctors' surgery to see if you need to see your GP or can refer yourself directly to your midwifery team.

The NHS website (i assume you're in the UK?) has the clearest and most up to date advice about all sorts of things, from what you're allowed to eat, to what to expect. Have a good read of the site.

Congratulations!

Pregnancy is measured from your lat period, so your baby isn't properly 5 weeks, baby hasn't even got a placenta yet so on paper you don't need to worry.

But I would mention it to your GP/midwife to be safe.

Congratulations and Good luck!

Congratulations on your bfp.

Re smoking in pregnancy the risk in the first 12 weeks is a higher chance of miscarriage. So try and stop now.If contact your local nhs stop smoking service you can get a special stop smoking midwife to prescribe nrt products and also gives lots of help and support. They come to you at home too.

If you stop smoking by 14 weeks it is as though you have never smoked at all whilst pg so definitely not too late to make a real difference to your babies health.

I was a smoker until 6 weeks ago. It's not been easy but I know it's the best gift I can give my baby and myself. And the rest of my family. If you have a look I started a thread a while ago about stopping smoking in pregnancy and received some fantastic advice and support. It's such a taboo subject and women are really reluctant to speak out about it for fear of being judged that I think we often miss out on the help and support that would make it easier to stop and stay stopped.

Good luck and be kind to yourself.

Congratulations on your BFP!! Don't worry about the cigarettes you have smoked to date. As the pps said, just give up from now. I found the Alan Carr book enormously helpful when I gave up, in case at all helpful. And you might find that nausea helps put you off it! Good luck!

If it makes you feel better my BFP was a few days after xmas so I'd been drinking loads, and sitting around with smokers for those first 5 weeks. All is fine with bb acording to the scans, (I'm 31 weeks).

thanks all, definitely makes me feel much better! haven't smoked since so we're on track!

Well done!!