Smoking - opinions

[teenmom2be]

Hi,

I was a smoker before my pregnancy, have managed to abstain so far but as any smoker will know it's not always easy.

I'm not saying I'm thinking of having a cigarette but I would appreciate some people's opinions/experiences please?

No judgement!

Please don't smoke during your pregnancy! Or after your baby is born either. Even smoke clinging to clothes increases the risk of SIDS. I honestly think you'd never forgive yourself if you hurt your baby. You've done so well to get this far - keep going! And get support from your hospital 💐

Well done to you for your success in abstaining so far. I know it's not easy.

On another recent MN thread someone posted photos of a placenta from a smoking mum Vs a healthy placenta. I was shocked at the difference which was really obvious even to the untrained non-medical eye. I think if you Googled this it would certainly thicken your resolve not to smoke!

Please dont do it - think of your child and your own health with thank you too!

You are doing amazingly! Keep going!!

I heard somewhere that having a cigarette while pregnant is the equivalent of squeezing the umbilical cord. I have no idea if it is true but it's has stuck with me. Think of your child every time you want to have a cigarette, surely that will put you off.

Be kind to yourself. Many pregnant ladies find it incredibly difficult to quit smoking. During pregnancy your body metabolises nicotine far quicker than when not pregnant which is why it can be so hard to quit & stay quit! Nicotine replacement products (patches, gum, lozenges etc) can really help you to stay off the cigarettes but make sure you use enough to keep cravings at bay. I used to be a Stop Smoking Advisor so do have some experience of this! Depending where you are you may be able to get some support via your midwife. Speak to them & ask what is available to you. Good luck & stay strong!

My best pal smoked throughout her pregnancy and her baby was born small, and one ear hadn’t developed properly so is noticeably smaller than the other. That will stay with her child for life now.

I don’t know if it was due to smoking, but if it were me ? I’d like to know I did everything to avoid the blame for any birth defects

If you really really can't do without a cigarette then get a tobacco flavoured vape

Well done OP, on 4 and a half months smoke free and hardly ever think about it now. I have to be around it a lot (loads of people smoke at my work) but the smell now makes me feel really sick when they come in and it lingers on their clothes.

I still have the occasional dream about smoking but that's it now. Get yourself some mints and crack on, it will get easier. Well done on your success so far!

Just see it as you have quit now. You really shouldn't smoke in pregnancy or with a baby..

@teenmom2be keep going you are doing really well.
Everyday is a success xxx

If you're not thinking of smoking then what's the point of the post? Were you hoping for some responses saying the odd cigarette wouldn't hurt??

I was a 20 a day smoker, but as soon as I saw those two lines I went cold turkey and haven’t even craved one. I knew and said to DP the only thing that will get me to quit smoking is if I were pregnant.

My mindset was that growing a healthy baby was my absolute main priority and I would never forgive myself if she had any problems during pregnancy or even when she’s born. I would never be able to shake the guilt.

It’s been really easy. What I have found extremely hard is not drinking, and I wasn’t a big drinker before. I was more of a stay at home have a bottle of wine in the evening that go out and get smashed type. But oh my god what I would do for a glass of wine or a g&t.

Well done for quitting OP, are you very far along in your pregnancy? Once you start feeling them move it becomes much more real and you realise how much you don’t need to smoke, you just need to wait patiently for that little wriggler to come home 😇

Of course there’s going to be judgement! It’s about smoking when you’re pregnant. If you wanted no judgement did you want someone to tell you that just one won’t hurt? Well it will. Don’t do it.

Keep up the good work and don't give in! You won't want to smoke around your new born baby, so take this huge motivator to change your habits for life. You can do it!

I was a smoker too and stopped the moment I found out I was pregnant. However I was at a wedding when I was about 15 weeks and I pinched one off my pal and hid away and smoked it. I felt so awful about it and haven't so much as looked at a cigarette since (although so still dream about it often) and am 33 weeks today. It is really hard work but you're doing really well. Stick at it!

My SIL smoked while pregnant and her son was born with several development issues. It probably ruined part of his enjoyment in life. He doesn't do well in school, is always bullied (its visible) and can't play football with his friends (can't run). Has already been operated on a few times. Is only 10 years old and depressed. They can't prove for 100% that it was due to smoking but say it most probably is. As an ex smoker I appreciate how bloody hard it is to quit but you really are influencing someone's whole life here. My nephew didn't ask to be born like this.

When I quit smoking I had a quit smoking book (in my own language, so can't recommend it to you) that I read for a bit every evening to remind me why I was quitting. Maybe that can give you some extra daily strength?

I was also a smoker prior to pregnancy (I'm now 32 weeks) and although I found giving up really easy the last few weeks I have been dreaming about smoking and I keep imagining I can smell fat smoke! I know I won't give in and have one but I feel a constant jiggle just now!

Niggle not jiggle 🤦‍♀️

I was a social one (pretty sociable) before I had my baby. I stopped and found out I was pregnant 2 weeks later. Even if I wasn't pregnant knowing we where trying to start a family was enough to make me stop. I was very lucky to catch first time but I knew that was going to be my last one as soon as we started trying. I've never felt better and I often think about how glad I am I stopped. It's a horrible habit with children and it doesn't make you feel better, you'll just feel more groggy when you do have one aside from the health reasons to you and the baby.

Fantastic work OP!!
I quit 10 years ago and best thing I have ever done. Hard. More so to quit when pregnant so well done.

Long game here OP, fantastic for baby but what about you? You will see huge benefits soon. It helps if people around you don’t smoke so the perfect excuse to ask them not to

My mum says she didn’t smoke during her pregnancies but she smoked the rest of her life and she never took a pregnancy test so I am guessing yes, she smoked until she knew. Then in the house until I left at 18.
Honestly I don’t think I can forgive her for that. My sister was premature and the placenta was impacted with hard black stuff (mum’s words) and she still says she used to go past a factory in the bus that releases polluted smoke so that is why.
Yeah mum

Anyway. Keep it going!!!!!!

@Cannyhandleit your senses are heightened I could smell it everywhere! It makes me feel sick now though which is an additional bonus!

It’s hard isn’t it?

With my first I fully stopped the day I found out I was pregnant.
Second- I cut down and fully stopped within 2 weeks.

You will hate yourself if you have one, you’ve done so well already

Also the smell of cigarettes made me feel terribly sick, could stand near someone who was smokin