pregnant smokers stories...

[madmillie92]

Soo.. To cut a long story short, I recently found out I was pregnant at 18 weeks pregnant (I was on the implant- needless to say it was a massive shock)
Up until that point I was a heavy smoker, smoking at least 20 a day. Of course I immediantly stopped and was absolutley terrified that I had done serious damage to my baby. I knew all the risk and complications of smoking during pregnancy and obsessivley googled info about it and the risks and had terrible nightmares about my baby being tiny and dying. However, I had my first scan yesterday, and to my surprise my baby was a good size and in perfect health. After yet more googling I came across countless stories about people who had smoked during pregnancy and their babys had been fine. To my slight annoyance, although there is lots of info on the risks of smoking there was actually no stories about people who have smoked and bad thing have happened to their babies.
So needless to say, my willpower is now waning, and I want to know about other peoples experience with smoking during pregnancy... And please no judgemental posts like ' if u smoke ur babys going to die and your an awful mum blah blah' ... Just peoples honest experiences... Not opinions...
Thanks xxxx

If you smoke, your baby wont die, but you WILL be adversely affecting it. I think it is amazing that you have given up and its brilliant news that you are growing a lovely healthy baby. The way to think of it is, every time you smoke, so does your baby - i know not directly, but the toxins will cross the placenta and its not necessary. Well done again xxx

what LEM said

speak to your MW or GP about smoking cessation support

Congratulations and well done on giving up!

DH's mum smoked throughout pregnancy and when he was a child. He grew up with chronic asthma, which is not only dangerous but is a real pita for a normal life. Eg we spent part of our honeymoon in hospital when he had a bad attack. Most of the time he's fine but it is something always hanging over him.

The other side of the coin is that through her prolonged smoking his mum ended up with an infection which led to a serious brain injury. She spent the last ten years of her life with a severely impaired memory, eg she often didn't recognise DH until he'd been with her for half an hour. She died earlier this year, from another illness connected with her smoking. I get really angry at what he has been through because of her. So even if your smoking doesn't apparently damage your baby, it could still impact on the rest of their life from the damage it does to you.

So don't take it up again! I'm sure you won't and everything will be great for you and your LO. Good luck.

i smoked during my 2nd pregnancy. I didnt regret it until i found out that my little helpless little boy would have asthma for the rest of his life probably because of it...it kills me every time he has an asthma attack or everytime i give him his puffers. Please stay off them OP x

Well Done on giving up.
I believe there is lots of evidence emerging that although some babies born to mothers who smoke appear to have no initial problems, there are various issues occuring as they get older. Reduced fertility, lower IQ, heart and lung problems, high cholesterol amogst others.
I think risk of cot death increases too.
Stop googling, be thankful all is well and don't crumble now. You have done a fabulous thing giving up.