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

Original poster

Smoking. Enough.

63 replies

Courtney555 · 26/08/2019 00:06

Help me stop.

Those of you who smoked, what did you use to stop. Because I'm hating myself for doing it.

Context. 19 weeks pregnant. Stopped for the first 15 weeks because I was so ill I physically couldn't. I'm now not smoking all the time, but if I'm stressed, it's the only thing that helps me.

I'm probably having 2/3 days without, then something gets on top of me and I'll have like 4 in a row. Then 3 more later. And it's wracking me with guilt. I desperately don't want too.

What did you have instead of a cigarette? Please help.

OP posts:
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mrspotatohed · 26/08/2019 18:03

Just cold turkey op. I know how hard it is. I'm 3.5 months in and the smell of other people smoking makes me drool. It's disgusting. Ive done it to try and give my daughter the best start possible though. Good luck Thanks

Evaroseh · 26/08/2019 18:24

I used the nicorette inhalator for about 2 weeks and found it pretty easy with that. There are loads of stop smoking aids it's just trying to find the one that works for you. Good luck!

PlatoAteMySnozcumber · 26/08/2019 18:39

Every single time you smoke a cigarette, your baby’s heartbeat increases due to the stress you are putting on its small developing body by reducing its available oxygen. Imagine that every time you think about lighting up.

If you are struggling with nicotine withdrawal as an adult who made a conscious decision to become addicted to nicotine, why would you want your precious baby’s first days/ weeks to be spent suffering nicotine withdrawal? To inflict that in your baby because you can’t deal with it is horrific IMO.

These things made it a pretty easy decision.

Jesse70 · 26/08/2019 18:43

That Allen Carr book someone already suggested how to stop smoking! I know 4 people who it's worked for. I stopped after 15 years but I found it easy as I really wanted to give up u have to be ready mentally I think. But good luck and give that book a try
Just think how long u were already stopped for and think of what could happen to little baby also increases SIDS etc so there's so much incentive to stop
If u get bored I used boiled sweets and started to do gel on my nails the French manicure tool a while to perfect lol
Good luck

Aimzxo · 26/08/2019 22:26

Hi

I totally understand your struggles I'm currently 17 weeks pregnant and found it really difficult

I'm currently using a vape, it's perfectly safe, it went down on my records when I first went to my midwife that I was struggling and when I went to my first scan I was approached by a nurse who wanted to enter me in a trial and you get free patches or a free vape, she said to me people always say vapes aren't safe but like she said they wouldn't do this trial and put babies at risk and if I went to my gp he would only prescribe me one anyway and it's really helped me

Good luck with it it is so hard xx

Wereeaglesdare · 26/08/2019 23:40

Everytime you go to smoke realise its not OK and it's a shitty thing to do and yes one will hurt it deffinately does.

I smoked heavily before I was pregnant but gave up even when people said one won't hurt because yes it will. Get ur head out of denial and throw ur ciggies away it's 9 crappy months out of your life. Get a grip lady. Don't smoke don't drink and don't do drugs. And every time you are tempted just think every puff on that ciggy is like someone is clamping down on your babies cord. Educate yourself

MoominKitty · 27/08/2019 01:18

My midwife signed Me up to patches and the spray but the spray was vile so just patches. I also have a fake fag from savers no nicotine or taste but it replaced my need for the morning one as you hold and drag on it like a cig if you see what I mean. I've smoked for years and am 24 weeks and smoke free now. It's hard, really hard so I'm wishing you luck in your journey xxx

ginandwine · 28/08/2019 20:04

A vape isn't "perfectly safe"

GammaStingRay · 28/08/2019 20:24

Your baby is entirely, 100% dependent on you for everything right now. Every time you smoke you’re poisoning the blood flow to your baby that they need to sustain themselves and continue to grow. If you think it sucks to go without cigarettes now, imagine how your baby will feel going through nicotine withdrawal at birth because their mum was too selfish to lay off the cigs for a few months.

Sorry but it needs to be said. I can’t believe you would decide to carry a pregnancy and yet smoke. Incredibly selfish. You can put the damage it does to your baby out of mind if you like but it doesn’t stop it happening.

Once baby is here, would you be okay with a stranger or relative taking a drag and then blowing smoke into their face? For an entire cigarette? Several cigarettes in a row? That’s not as bad as what you’re doing as the baby would at least have access to safe air other than that. They don’t have that ability inside you.

YesQueen · 28/08/2019 20:56

@ginandwine OP can't quit smoking, and hasn't managed so far
She's better to use a vape than carry on smoking, and cancer research and public health England agree
Vaping has been about for ages now, I first tried in 2013. There's been the odd bit of false hysteria about popcorn lung, but people aren't dropping dead from vaping every day like smokers are
It's like a nicotine patch, or gum

dollytutu · 28/08/2019 22:19

@ginandwine speak to midwife the advice they give ATM is that they are perfectly safe for baby!! They don't particularly care about you it's your baby and nothing passes through the placenta hence yes or is perfectly safe!
Obviously for you ot may be a different story!

Casmama · 28/08/2019 22:32

Honestly just don't allow yourself to smoke. It may not be easy but it is simple. Say to yourself, i don't smoke because my baby is more important to me than the desire to smoke and i am going to put my baby first.

I could not live with the chance that i might lose my baby and would never know whether my actions had contributed to that or not so stopped cold turkey the day after i got a positive test.

BooseysMom · 28/08/2019 22:38

Another advocate of Allan Carr. I can't remember what was in the book as it was 15 years ago but it worked and it wasn't just temporary fix either. Good luck x

Hopex3 · 29/08/2019 08:19

GammaStingRay completely agree. without giving you a hard time OP but I believe as soon as you get pregnant that baby has to become more important than ourselves. as a person who suffers with debilitating anxiety and doesnt even allow themselves to have a caffeinated tea (!) out of fear of what may happen I find posts like this quite hard. again, I know you clearly know that smoking isn't good for the baby or you wouldn't of posted here but please if you take anything from the responses pay particularly close attention to the ones that are telling you what the potential affects may be on the baby both now and after birth. they could end up having something wrong for life for the sake of a few more months of quitting the fags. please think about it - I used to smoke and know its addictive I really do but I figured I wanted a healthy baby way more and could deal with any kind of withdrawal symptoms. you managed it for 15 weeks - dont give up x

GoodStuffAnnie · 29/08/2019 08:45

Alan Carr. Think I’ve spelt it wrong. It’s basically hypnotherapy. So if it doesn’t work try a hypnotherapist. Good luck.

FoxAndTheBear · 29/08/2019 08:54

You have my sympathy Flowers it’s tough I only stopped caping as I got awful MS for 5 months and never went back. I don’t know whether I’d suggest vaping or cutting down on cigarettes? Vaping hasn’t got nearly as many chemicals as smoking 😕 whatever you do good luck Op. don’t put too much pressure on yourself too it’ll make you smoke more x

CassandrasCastle · 29/08/2019 09:27

I feel for you OP. I smoked, and have still had 1 every few days since finding out I was pregnant a few weeks ago. I know - very selfish, yes yes. But it is HARD. I know I have to put the baby first, but when that crazy craving kick in it's awful. But obviously I am just being stupid, because if I've managed to reduce to 1 every other day say, then obviously I can stop and it's a mind thing. I am also having a very stressful time with my family which is not helping

I haven't bought any new cigarettes but still had an old pack. Last night I smoked one, then cried and went through what was left and broke every single one in half. From today I will not smoke, I WILL NOT. I want to be held accountable, so it's good to write it down.

CassandrasCastle · 29/08/2019 09:28

So I guess starting this thread is a really good start OP. And don't beat yourself up too much, that'll just make it even worse

bluebell34567 · 29/08/2019 09:39

well done @CassandrasCastle Flowers

CassandrasCastle · 29/08/2019 11:40

Thanks @bluebell34567 Cake

Original poster
Courtney555 · 30/08/2019 14:57

Thank you guys. I've got a doctor's appointment requested and I'm going to order that book.

As to "educate myself"..."oh, how could you"...

Literally, grow the preachy fuck up. I have two degrees. I'm not stupid. I am quite aware of the potential horrendous consequences. To think I'm choosing to have a cigarette because I'm a bit simple or not arsed about my babies?? I get this is the internet and of course you'll get that sort of thing, but for crying out loud Hmm

I. Can't. Stop. Despite doing everything I can in my control to stop, I "choose" a cigarette in the same way an alcoholic "chooses" a drink. I need advice from those who were in a similar position to please tell me what worked for them so I can try it.

Pointing out the obvious as if it hasn't occurred to me helps no one.

How effective was the hypnotherapy please? Was it one/numerous sessions? Has anyone tried it and it hasn't worked? I've found someone in my area that does it, but it's very very expensive and there's a couple of reviews from people using it to try and stop over eating that say it had no effect on them.

OP posts:
pontiouspilates · 30/08/2019 15:06

I also found it really hard to stop when I was pregnant with DS 20yrs ago. I found I was actually craving them. 2 sessions with a local hypnotherapist sorted me out. Good luck OP and congratulations Flowers

GrannySquares · 30/08/2019 16:01

Watch Misbehaving Mum To Be. There's a bit where it shows a baby monitor and it tells you how much carbon monoxide the baby is breathing in as you keep smoking. Basically she explained that every time you take a puff of your cigarette, it's like squeezing the babies umbilical cord so they don't get as much oxygen. Can you confide into your midwife?

bluebell34567 · 31/08/2019 00:26

smoking is a stronger addiction than alcohol generally.

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