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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

admit it...did you smoke during pregnancy?

60 replies

naereallyme · 21/06/2007 12:07

i did
in secret, 5 or 6 a day
haven't had one since the day he was born.
anyone else willing to fess up?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Chattyhan · 22/06/2007 16:24

I have had a couple of puffs on 4/5 occasions in pregnancy due to stress of DP threatening to leave. Have managed to stop again now and made sure there are none in the house to ease temptation! I feel guilty about it.

mytwopenceworth · 22/06/2007 16:33

I stopped smoking when I found out I was pregnant with ds1, didn't touch one the whole time, or afterwards. However, during pregnancy with ds2, I was going through whole lot of stuff and I did take to smoking a bit in secret.

Now, I don't know for sure, but I think this is the reason ds1 is a fit and healthy strapping lad who shakes off a cold in a matter of hours!! while ds2 gets every bug going, has perma-cough, repeated chest infections and I wonder if it is the cause of his anaemia too.

And every time he gets a cold that goes straight to his chest and he needs yet another course of antibiotics, I feel huge guilt and want to bend over in the street and have all and sundry boot me up the backside, because I should never have done it.

Stargazing · 22/06/2007 17:07

ditched the fags a long time before I even started thinking about having a baby - so my answer is no - but DRINKING, well, that's another thing altogether. Find it very hard to say no to a glass of wine, but try to limit myself to 3 or 4 a week. Would happily get drunk though, given a choice ...

did/ do any you smokers drink in pregnancy?

policywonk · 22/06/2007 17:10

I smoked about 5 a day until 5 months' gone with DS1, then stopped completely

Then my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer when I was 8 months' gone and I started again

When I found out I was pregnant with DS2, I stopped at about 4 weeks and haven't smoked since - that was three years ago. Don't miss it at all.

AlistairSim · 22/06/2007 17:13

DD was completely unplanned, so was smoking until I fund out I was pregnant.

Gave up straight away, which was easy for me as I was so sick the last thing I wanted was a cig!

Started again after she was born.

Pregnant again and not smoking and this time will go to gp for help not to start again.

charNcoco · 22/06/2007 21:12

yea i did unfortunatley. i smoked 2 a day up to 20 weeks then it lipped a bit to 3/4 a day/ i did try so so hard to quit tho and i wouldn't dream of smoking around little 1 now so ashamed deep inside

Emprexia · 24/06/2007 20:12

Nope. I actually quit before i knew i was pregnant because i caught a chest infection when i was just 3 wks pregnant.

It really affected my asthma and i couldn't even walk up the stairs without struggling to breathe.

I found out i was pregnant at 6wks and i never started again, not that i haven't had some serious cravings.

Aloveheart · 24/06/2007 20:17

I did with both of mine, i knew it was wrong but couldn't seem to stop it. If i got pg again i would definately try hard to quit it this time. It's not good and i'm not proud of it at all.

Practicalpet · 24/06/2007 20:25

Yes, Am totally ashamed I smoked 10 per day on Dd, found out at 14wks she could have a genetic disorder, then I couldn't stop.

I gave up just before I found out I was pregnant with ds he was 2lb heavier at birth. Definately dd birth weight was related to smoking.

Practicalpet · 24/06/2007 20:28

Sorry, forgot to add I have not smoked since then. (Thanks Alan Carr)

MaureenMLove · 24/06/2007 20:29

I smoked and drank heavily until i found out I was pg at 4 months! Stopped as soon as I knew though.

anotherembarrassingillness · 24/06/2007 20:30

Not necesarily, Arbs, my dd was 4lb lighter than ds and I've never smoked.

Practicalpet · 24/06/2007 20:38

Thanks for that AEI, I still hate the fact I did it and they say it is a factor.

Scootergrrrl · 24/06/2007 20:42

I have a friend with two younger brothers who are both international sportsmen. He's nowhere near and his mother smoked throughout her pregnancy with him alone.

Naetha · 24/06/2007 22:34

My mother smoked heavily (20 a day+) when she was pregnant with my brother.

He ended up being 6'10" so I guess results vary!

I'm a non-smoker myself and consider it to be a disgusting habit, and I cringe when I see people smoking around children, but I guess people have their reasons, and knowing the risks, it must have a very strong hold on a lot of people for them not to give up.

plummymummy · 25/06/2007 15:59

Never smoked but have cut down alcohol (have 2 units a week). This is always hard in first few weeks when there aren't many pg symptoms and in the last trimester. Just wondered why so many women give up when pg but start again straight after. My mum did this and tbh I would've preferred her to smoke whilst pg and give up after having us as it's horrible living with parents who smoke. Mind you, I know lots of people go outside to smoke now - my parents smoked in the house.

newbohemian · 10/03/2017 14:38

Smoking must be absolutely brilliant. Everyone who does it loves it.

Pitchforktotheface · 10/03/2017 20:48

I gave up when we started ttc and haven't had one since. I figured if I couldn't give up for this then what else would I not do for my child. It worked in my head but I'm a stickler for the rules normally anyway. I found pate much harder to resist!

70ontheinside · 10/03/2017 20:55

Stopped as soon as I found out. Haven't smoked for over 10 years now.

SIL didn't stop. Dn was born at 24 weeks and has massive health issues.

Comealongpond89 · 10/03/2017 20:59

I did. I cut down to 5 a day from 20. I still have 2 or 3 after dd is in bed now but only in the garden

bloodymaria · 10/03/2017 21:03

Haven't smoked for over 10 years now.

That's as long as this threads been going!

FATEdestiny · 10/03/2017 21:08

I smoked heavily (20-30 a day) through the pregnany, births and childhoods of

DD - 2004
DS - 2005
DS - 2009

Gave up 1st January 2013, conceived Jan 2013 but MMC April. DD born 2014. I'll never smoke again

Those who smoked did you follow advice on what you shouldn't eat while pregnant?

Yes, I followed all other health advise. I didn't hide the fact I smoked from HCP. I actually left the delivery room following the births of DC2 and DC3 to have a cigarette (not proud of this)

Im also an educated woman. I taught (science teacher) the dangers smoking causes to the body and baby. Health lectures, IME, won't affect a smoker who isn't ready to give up.

An psychological interesting aside though... I coslept when both DH and I were smokers. Not all the time, but via a cosleeper cot my children would often fall asleep in bed next to me as we lay-down breastfed. I was fully aware of the SIDS risks. It became about managing and balancing risks through informed education.

I firmly believe that beating smoking mothers-to-be with the Guilt Trip Stick is not the way to help them give up smoking. Most feel so guilty they won't even admit they smoke, so therefore cannot access any support.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 10/03/2017 21:09

Where is the zombie thread warning??

Toobloodytired · 10/03/2017 21:38

Nope, quit the day I found out.

I have come close but couldn't bring myself to do it, I'd feel horribly guilty.

However, I can't promise I won't have one after he's born!

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 10/03/2017 21:42

I had a goodbye fag with the positive test in the other hand - that was it, haven't touched one since then.

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