Tips to avoid breathing in smoke when driving in traffic when pregnant

[K1989]

If someone is pregnant and stuck in traffic and someone is smoking in the car in front and there is no way of getting out of the situation.

Does anyone have any tips on how to reduce the risks in this situation? Would breathing through a cloth help reduce the amount of smoke inhaled.

When I was pregnant if I walked past someone smoking I would genuinely hold my breath for a second or if they were walking near me for a while I would always cross the road or keep away.

I sometimes even do it still now! If you're not a smoker you wouldn't like breathing it in anyway so I understand.

I don't have any advice but I wouldn't worry on the whole 'anxiety' issue.. unless of course you generally do feel like you need to address it.

@tinykirst - I've done that in the past before at times as I hate the smell of cigarette smoke but in lots of traffic. There's only so long i can hold my breath.

With my anxiety- my main worries and fears are around childbirth. I'm ok for the most part with pregnancy. (Apart from a few worries about things that may cause harm that can't be avoided) I'd like to overcome this now before getting pregnant. As I'm concerned my anxiety would impact the pregnancy if I didn't address it now.

Could you afford to change car? To one with air con, so you can close the windows? Would be the simplest solution.

@K1989 if you're anxious about childbirth I would 100% look in to hypnobirthing. It sounds all 'hippy' but it isn't! It basically just teaches you how to relax and stay calm and just allow your body to do what it needs to do. The techniques you learn will also benefit everyday life as well as pregnancy and childbirth!

K1989 - I am impressed with your calm and factual responses to a number of replies that are pretty judgy and unpleasant. And the fact you are seeking support to manage your condition in advance of getting pregnant shows strength and a healthy approach to your mental health, which you need for becoming a mum. A car with air con is a good idea if possible, if things like this will worry you, and also if you end up pregnant over a summer like this it will definitely be an investment!

I have been driving about with windows open as I don't have air con and I have thought about the risks of car fumes, but the risk of me getting overheated and stressed by that outweighs the risk imo.

@K1989 , sadly there is very little you can do to control childbirth. Your body will do what it needs to do, sometimes intervention is required.

Let I will tell you my story.

I was so scared of a c-section. With me, my mum was 10 days overdue, induced. in labour 36 hours. They were close to doing a c-section. I was told not to worry, these things hardly ever happen.
I ended up having a c-section at 41w5days. And do you know what? It was all fine. Recovery was longer than with friends who delivered vaginally, and I had comments from idiots who thought I hadn't given birth.

But I had my baby, we bonded, we breastfed and it was wonderful. And at the end of it all, I couldn't have cared less how he came into the world, just that he was in it.

It was so amazing, I went on to do it another three times (for medical reasons rather than emergency). After 4 sections my stomach/abs are wrecked. But I don't care. My eldest is now 9, and it doesn't make any difference how he or any of the other babies came into the world.

I hope that this helps alleviate some of your fears.

A side note, a lot of my friends did hypnobirthing and loved it.