Smoking whilst pregnant

[gemzitab]

Hello there
Not posted in a while.

I'm struggling very much with giving up smoking whilst pregnant. I am 20 weeks and having a little boy.

I was told that my baby might be on the small side due to this but then could also be huge like my daughter was.

Anybody else struggled with this?
With my first pregnancy I gave up successfully but I've tried patches vapes and I'm really not doing so well.
I am ashamed and I worry about the harm I may do although I am assured baby is very healthy.

I also sometimes have the odd glass of wine and I have no idea if this is harmful of not- maybe 3 glasses a week.

Please no judgement. I'm just a mum who has has an extremely hard year that's just passed and I suffer from diagnosed OCD and ptsd

I'm eating incredibly healthily and myself and baby are well. I just wondered if anybody else had struggles with giving up smoking??
Thanks

Buy a decent vape tank for around thirty quid and you'll quit instantly. Don't buy a cheap one because it won't work, it'll leak and you'll go back to cigarettes.

I stopped smoking with my first pregnancy a few weeks in, (never started again) it was hard but i just kept thinking about my baby inhaling the smoke and that was enough for me. I think it's the right thing to speak to the midwife.

I'm pregnant with baby number 4 and haven't drank through any of my pregnancys, the advice now is none at all so just not something i would do but I'm not a big drinker when not pregnant.

I am sorry- but personally I think it is really selfish to keep on smoking when pregnant. I know it is an 'addiction' - but you have a life growing in you that takes whatever you put in your body into theirs- if that is not enough to make you stop I really do not know what is.
Any health issues your baby may end up having may be down to your smoking. Why would you continue?
I think the problem is nurses and midwives have to be so diplomatic as if they do the 'hard line' they get in to trouble for upsetting their patient- but I think some people need to realise how lucky they are to be pregnant in the first place - and not to potentially harm their child by smoking and drinking.
I am sorry if this sounds harsh- but realistically you need to give up.

I’ve practised as a HCP for many years and have a masters level qualification in my field. I’ve both attended and delivered smoking cessation training which has included specialist care for pregnant women. I’ve never once come across the ‘giving up can cause more damage due to stress’ message.
I just can’t fathom how or why that could be that case and there certainly aren’t any studies evidencing it. I can’t believe Drs and midwives would support this dangerous advice.

Anyway, that’s besides the point really. OP- it is undoubtedly very hard to give up smoking and you’ve done well to cut down. Quitting altogether will be the single most important thing you can do to give your baby the best start- far more significant than any other lifestyle change you could make in pregnancy. It’s not ideal to wait so long for a referral so I’d make an apt with your GP if you’re serious about giving up and they will be able to support you. Best of luck

No judgment here. It is incredibly hard. I failed with my first child (39 weeks - 9lb 7oz) and quit at 20 weeks with my second child using a vape until 30 weeks when I went cold turkey.

NHS have a smoking cessation clinic that runs in GP surgeries etc that have been fantastic for me. Have you tried them yet?