Anyone live with smokers and used an air purifier?

[birthofawoman]

Live at home with my mum, her boyfriend and my brother (been trying to move out but I'm in my third year of university so my dissertation/assignments in general have taken up a lot of my time and energy, as well as having quite a difficult pregnancy, symptoms-wise, so haven't been able to be as proactive about moving out as I'd've liked to be - sorry, feel I have to explain myself) and everyone I live with smokes. I've had a really tough time (resulting in a lot of arguments) regarding them smoking. They all smoke indoors and merely open their windows, thinking that's enough of an effort to prevent smoke from reaching me/my unborn baby. MW has told me this isn't good enough, and that they'd need to smoke outside. Nonetheless, they don't seem to listen/care enough. Nor do they think they should have to (they see me as selfish for expecting them to, as I'm the one who "went and got pregnant" so why should they have to "inconvenience themselves?". By my logic, if you have a harmful habit that has the capacity to also harm others (which smoking absolutely does), you should be the one compromising your convenience for the health/safety of others... it shouldn't be that non-smokers should have to compromise their health/safety to convenience the smoker and their addiction! In addition, my brother often smokes weed too, and his room is right next to mine (so cigarette smoke and weed smoke right next to me, every single day).

Anyway... since they're not much interested in changing their behaviour, I'm thinking about air purifiers. Have these been known to work for anyone who may have been in my situation? And would anybody be able to recommend a good brand, maybe? My CO levels have been high (for a non-smokers) during antenatal appointments because of this, and at one of my antenatal classes it was mentioned that there is a strong link between the presence of smokers in the house (just smokers living IN the house, not people SMOKING in the house) and SIDS, so I'm really anxious about potentially having to be under this roof for a while with my baby - I'm 36+4 weeks!

Thanks, in advice, for your help!

You are living in someone else's house, whilst I agree the smoking would really annoy me too, it's still their home that they are letting you live in.
Have you thought about moving out?

Litchie of course I have, it's just been hard for me to arrange moving out due to the reasons highlighted in the first paragraph of the post. This isn't an ideal situation for me, and I'm well aware of that fact that I'm living under my mother's roof so can only expect so many of my needs to be met - hence why I'm on MN, asking for advice on air purifiers!

Lichtie ^

Birth... Sorry I wasn't having a go. It just sounds like they are not going to change and you have legitimate reasons to be concerned. An air purifier won't make much of a difference unless you only live in a room and keep the door closed. Which when the little one comes (congratulations by the way) will be difficult.
Is there anyone that can help you be more proactive in finding a housing solution?

Either move out or stop complaining. You knew you lived with smokers when you got pregnant.

I think you moving a baby into a house with a weed smoker is a potential social services issue.

I know it’s probably a lot easier said than done, but I don’t think an air purifier is going to cut it and you really need to move out. We have them in the bedrooms at home (we live in a very hot dusty country) and I can’t see how they would make much of a difference at all in terms of second hand smoke.

Best of luck, it sounds like a difficult situation.

Lichtie that's ok. Yes, there is. I just wanted a measure in place for if I still happen to be at home when baby arrives (I know these things can take a while).

Roaring20s your comment was totally uncalled for. 'When you got pregnant' - oh, because you're somehow certain it was a choice, are you? You know the details of how I went about conceiving a child? Ok. And 'moving a baby into a house', as if I don't already live here and I'm actively choosing to 'bring' my baby to a week-smoker? I shouldn't even be giving my time to such a comment.

Roaring20s weed-smoker*

Ugh don’t listen to some of those horrendously snobby comments @birthofawoman

I think it’s good that you’re trying your best given your circumstances and the inconsiderate people around you. I’d recommend keeping your bedroom door shut constantly with the window open and perhaps a draft prevention thing along the bottom of the door. I’d also avoid the rest of the house as much as possible.

I’m 7 weeks and also a 3rd year 😊 I’ve just finished my diss so I understand completely why you have your mind on other things besides moving. Just concentrate on your studies and focus on moving as soon as you’re done. It’s too much to focus on both. It must be a very stressful time for you. Why does your mother condone your brother smoking weed under her roof when her grandchild might be avdersely affected?

But don’t worry, some women smoke heavily during pregnancy and their babies are ok. Just try your best to avoid the smoke if you can x

Good luck by the way! I’m sure you’ll do well 😊

SS won’t be interested in a good Mother raising their DC in the same house as someone who happens to smoke cannabis. I know many people who have grown up around cannabis, SS really aren’t interested in a class C drug that is legal in many parts of the world. Heroin and you may have a point.

Unfortunately an air purifier won’t do very much to help. It would be akin to keeping the window open all day in all honesty. It may clear YOUR room out slightly but the issue is it being in the house generally. It’s risky enough during pregnancy (and I’m sure you know the risks involved such as prematurity, stillbirth etc) but yes, it is massively risky around a newborn. Since you are so far along I’m not sure if it’s the same where you are but I always had a home visit around your stage. It may be worthwhile your mifwife speaking directly to your family and explaining the risks to your child, hopefully that would change their views.

As others have said, using an air purifier isn’t going to cut it. You need to minimise SIDS by following all the other guidelines religiously.

Wow op. This sounds like a very negative and unsupportive environment that you are living in. I feel for you. Are you on a housing register? If you want to rent privately you may be able to borrow the deposit from the council. I did this about 8 years ago to get my first rented place.

@potteringalong what do you suggest she does? Make herself homeless by following the guidelines religiously? I’m sure that’s going to be greeeaat for the baby’s development

No, I said she needs to follow all the other guidelines ...

Your family have a crappy attitude towards you and your baby. I'm sorry you're having to deal with that.

The only decent one I know of is the Dyson Pure Cool air purifier, which removes 99.95% of allergens (including smoke particles), but they are fiendishly expensive. Will be better than nothing though, particularly if you follow the other tips too (windows open, door stop etc).

Congratulations on the baby.