Worrying!! (one occasion exposure to second-hand smoke!)

[PregnantAndEngaged]

Can't sleep tonight I'm still so worried about it. Yesterday I felt I was in a dangerous situation from my baby and struggled to escape it easily yesterday. I'm 14 weeks pregnant.

I'm the sort of person that worries that everything is harming my baby e.g. a glass of coke, some chocolates, a take away. And I will always hold my breath briefly when walking past a smoker.

Yesterday my fiance invited me to the pub, so I knew I'd only have soft drinks and normally we just sit with his friends on a bench in the pub. I was really annoyed because when I first got there, we were outside and everyone was congratulating me, then had the cheek to light up a fag right next to me!!! :( I tried to move along a bit but it seemed like everyone was smoking around me. We were outside for no more than 20 mins and then went in.

Later on we had to come outside again because I was overheating and it was just too crowded in there. This time it was just crowded with smokers but one of ours friends got talking to us and I felt it would be rude to just rush off. But I started getting ancy as I was stood there for what felt like 10 mins in what felt like a ridiculous level of smoke and I was just soooo frightened it was harming the baby. So I pulled my fiance away and said we had to move, didn't care anymore if I was coming across as rude!

However I've been sat up now for the past hour freaking out about the effects of this on my baby :( I'm never going to the pub again while pregnant even if I figure it's just a soft drink... I never anticipated I'd end up being around so many smokers and risk harming my baby like this :(

I live in one of the London boroughs where the pollution is like smoking 150 cigarettes a year (or about three a week). Many places in this country and around the world are the same. Okay, far from an ideal air quality situation, but not something that millions of women can help and who end up with perfectly healthy babies. You’ll be fine. A bit of second hand fag smoke is nothing compared to living in Newham!

ZOMBIE THREAD

Whilst your reaction is extreme, does part of your anxiety relate to them not knowing that you are pregnant? If they do know, I think it is not unreasonable to say that you are anxious about being around smokers when you are pregnant. They might make space for you or put their cigarette out. Once people know you are pregnant I think it is totally fine to explain that being around smokers makes you anxious (even though I think your level of anxiety is unwarranted).

Your reaction is extreme which leads me to agree with everyone that you're overly anxious. I suffered with PND and PNA, I'm still on medication for the anxiety 5 years later and have attended so many CBT sessions, I feel I could run one now. They have helped so much.

I am more concerned that once your baby is here your anxiety will be magnified and lead to serious problems for you, your family and your baby.

If you think about it, many people smoke and drink throughout their pregnancies and have babies who are absolutely fine or have been mildly impacted. Some obviously do suffer massively because of their mothers actions while pregnant, but that is usually babies that were exposed to high levels of drugs, alcohol, smoke etc. Like, very high. Some babies are born addicted to heroine and go on to lead healthy lives.

Try and keep things in perspective

@AntarcticTern

ZOMBIE THREAD

Ah WHAT!!!???? Gutted I didn't notice

My mum was a chain smoker when pregnant with me. I'm nearly 50 and I'm fine (not that I recommend smoking whilst pregnant obviously)! Honestly, a few minutes of second hand smoke exposure will do no harm.