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Original poster

Giving up smoking in pregnancy

53 replies

SparklyGothKat · 09/04/2007 09:10

I don't want to be judged, and please don't leap on me. I am 9 weeks and really want to give up smoking. I know the risks of smoking and benifits of giving up. I have phoned the NHS helpline but they are closed atm. I have found a list of providers in my area and have found a few chemists that seem to offer the service, but am unsure if that what it means. I want to do this tomorrow, but know I will find it hard without help. Do chemists normally offer this service?

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Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 09/04/2007 17:25

Have spoken to the NHS smoking helpline and also have phoned the pregnancy one, they are great. Have told DH he has to smoke outside and to hide the fags tonight so I can't find them in the morning. Haven't been able to get any NRT today as everywhere is closed so will be cold turkey tomorrow. Have done it before, will do it again.

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fannyannie · 09/04/2007 17:33

good lucj=k SGK - I eventually managed to quit completely when I was 4 months pg with DS1, after 2 days with DS2.....and this one.......well I have to confess I still haven't managed to kick it and I'm 31+6 .

colditz · 09/04/2007 17:33

Our local Pregnancy Smoking Cessation unit recommendsn patches very highly, and I know several people who used them effectively. Well done.

Lwatkins · 09/04/2007 23:12

Just wanted to say good luck. Am 34 weeks pregnant and was smoking during my pregnancy for a while. Stopped for 3 weeks around xmas, then started again. Then stopped, then started, stopped then started! Haven't smoked for weeks now though and feel much better for it.
I went cold turkey and it was fu**in hard to do (excuse my french!) but once your past the 3rd day your generally ok. I think what has kept me not going back to it is peoples reactions to a clearly pregnant woman smoking (they aint subtle!!!) and the fact that my dad has just been diagnosed with COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which is caused mainly by smoking. My dad gave up smoking over 20 years ago, unfortunatley the damage the smoking did to his lungs was non-repairable and he is now suffering (very badly) for it. Scary stuff!

Good luck

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 09/04/2007 23:14

the main reason I want to give up is I have premature births anyway (gave up with all my pregnancies) and I don;t want this baby to be born even earlier because of me.

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Winestein · 10/04/2007 08:09

Yes Zookeeper. Allen Carr did die of lung cancer recently. It was amazing he made it to 72 really, and all thanks to him having actually stopped smoking himself no doubt.

OopsImoaningagain · 10/04/2007 08:22

I went cold turquey at 5-6 weeks pregnant...everytime I was tempting to have a fag, I had the picture in my head of my unborn baby having a fag too...awful, it helped me quite a lot, I'm 36 weeks PG and I don't suffer any cravings or anything.Also the morning sickness helped a bit as I could'nt bear smelling the smoke.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/04/2007 10:23

have been awake since 8am and haven't had a fag yet, have been out too.

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colditz · 10/04/2007 10:30

Well done!

buy some sweeties and reward yourself with one every time you manage not to have one.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/04/2007 10:31

am chewing gum, my mum would say I look like a cow chewing cud!

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colditz · 10/04/2007 10:42

Lots of glasses of very very cold water, and remember it is better to lapse and put a patch on or some NRT gum than to have the thing you mustn't

Brangelina · 10/04/2007 10:53

I used the inhalers, that was the only thing that worked for me. The patches made me feel ill and the gum was disgusting. The inhalers worked as it gave me something to do with my hands and when I had a crisis moment I could take a long "drag" and instantly felt better, even if I hadn't put a new nicotine capsule in. You're supposed to use 6 capsules a day IIRC if you're a 20 a day smoker and decrease gradually, but I only ever used one a day even though I was a real fag-ash lily (20+ a day) and after a couple of weeks was down to 1 a week, so hardly any nicotine but excellent psychological effect.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/04/2007 10:57

just normal gum here. I am finding it hard when the craving hits, and my hands are desperate for something to do...

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MrsMar · 10/04/2007 11:06

Hi SGK - good luck with giving up. I gave up 2.5 years ago, I wasn't pg at the time (dh said he wouldn't marry me if I didn't give up, he HATES it) I went cold turkey, and I can't pretend it was easy. It's kind of cheesy, but it is a day at a time thing. If you're able to, try brushing your teeth each time you feel a craving. I found that helped, although don't go overboard, my dentist told me off about gum erosion because I was scrubbing too hard (I blame nicotine withdrawal!)

There are lots of other tricks to do, if you can, go for a walk when you get a craving. It's probably not so relevant for you now, but I gave up drinking totally during the first 6 months, because I found drinking wine made my cravings unbearable. Contrary to many people's experience, I lost weight when I gave up, as my cravings were really bad after meals, I simply gave up meals (not advisable, or even particularly possible when pg I guess!) TBH I was ready to give up, and that really helped. I was so glad to be free of the evil weed, and there isn't a day that goes by when I don't think "thank God I don't smoke any more!" Good luck, it's so worth it!!

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/04/2007 17:59

well have managed 10 hours!!! Had a few niggy moments, but nothing major.

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MrsMar · 10/04/2007 18:16

Fantastic!!! keep it up!! I used to think to myself I didn't go through all that hell giving up, only to give in to some silly craving! The nicotine is out of your body in 24 hours, so after that all cravings are pretty much psycholgical. You can beat them!

dg1 · 10/04/2007 18:19

Good luck!
I had hypnosis to give up smoking (before ds was born) - worked so well for me that I decided I'm obviously susceptible so did hypnobirthing for the big day (which also worked fabulously but that's a whole other story!).
My Mum's tip for giving up is to chuck a few fag buts into a jam jar with a bit of water at the bottom - every time you crave a ciggie open the jar and inhale deeply.
Really kills off those cravings, apparently!

charNbump · 10/04/2007 19:13

well done!!!! keep going...am really proud of you! xxxxxx

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/04/2007 19:54

12 hours now!! Had a huge scream earlier, when the girls were playing up at bedtime, and would have killed for a fag, but I didn't... Cold turkey is horrible... DH has been smoking outside and hiding the fags, which has helped.

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WideWebWitch · 10/04/2007 20:27

Well done, the first 3 days is the worst but after that it's so so much easier. Tell yourself you can't bear to put yourself through that first 10 hours again. Good for you.

skirmish · 10/04/2007 21:00

well done...you are doing an amazing job! keep it up, and remember what a great start you are giving your lo by not smoking too

lots of support here when you need it too

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 11/04/2007 18:03

2nd day!!! cravings are not as bad today. Its easy atm

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hercules1 · 11/04/2007 18:34

SParklygothcat - you should join us on the cambridge diet thread. I havent eaten any "food" for 10 days now. It's bloody tough an all

You're doing brilliantly btw

J20BABYLOVESCHOCOLATEEGGS · 13/04/2007 16:54

SGC your doing really really well

wish i could do it

lazyemma · 13/04/2007 17:05

Keep it up, SGK! You're doing really well.