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!

@wondering7777 I think there's some alarmist posts on here to be honest and I'm sure I'll get some responses saying I'm an irresponsible mother. I don't smoke, but my partner does (I really want him to stop, but can't make him 😢) so does mil. I couldn't really make them shower before holding baby so they would wash hands and hold baby. I was really worried about it when he was tiny and paranoid after everything I read, but I personally think that it had little effect. In his first year he had one cold, for example.
My mum smoked throughout pregnancy and smoked in the house too I believe when I was a baby and little. Now I'm not condoning that, but I do wonder about the effect of cigarette smoke on clothes on baby.

@Rubyroost I have to agree with you I think. My mum smoked while she was pregnant with me, and in the house when I was a child. I turned out fine, although I’m not saying for one minute there aren’t risks involved (my younger sister was three weeks prem), so the idea of asking my mum not to hold the baby or to shower before holding the baby seems very OTT and the risks very minimal compared to what I went through! I don’t think breathing in cigarette smoke on clothes can be good for anyone, but I don’t think people should act as though that alone spells certain death either.

If you can't quit then you are not really ready to have a child. Having a child is all about putting their needs above yours, consistently, for the next 18 years. If you are struggling at this first hurdle then I'd seriously rethink cos it's only going to get harder

(Smoked for ten years before getting pregnant and never smoked again)

so the idea of asking my mum not to hold the baby or to shower before holding the baby seems very OTT and the risks very minimal compared to what I went through!

The thing is that everyone has risks that they’re happy with and risks that they’re not. You have to weigh up your own lines but also be aware of how those lines impact on other things (so, for example, smoking and being around second hand smoke increases the risk of SIDS. So does sleeping in a different room from you before 6 months. So do you never let that happen because you’ve already increased the risk by being around the smoker).

I was a social smoker before (really only with DP, who still does smoke even though it's more weed than regular cigarettes) I've completely stopped due to the low PAPP-A results I got back. For some reason I think there was a link between the 2. Obviously when you get a result back saying your pregnancy may be affected, and to stop smoking immediately it's quite easy to quit.

@PotteringAlong I've read the original study on third hand smoking, it's not second hand! There's absolutely no evidence that it increases risks of sids. The study found that chemicals do stick on smokers, but have not been able to work out whether this actually affects the baby. Any mention of harm is extrapolation only. I can send you a link explaining this if you like. The nhs guidelines are still that... Smoke outside and not in vicinity of baby, no mention of showering and washing because of the way they have interpreted the study (which was a small scale study)

I found out I was pregnant at 6weeks, surprise pregnancy. I've managed to cut down a lot but even though I instantly regret it I have still been smoking about once a week. I know how bad it is, I'm not stupid, but somehow the moment of weakness takes over and I do it. I feel so guilty and tell myself I'm not doing it again. I've not bought any and when I'm alone I'm not necessarily thinking about smoking but when I'm with other people it's easy to give in. And I wish these people would stop me doing it as it is their stuff I am smoking but ultimately I am the only one who can stop myself smoking. I had my last one on Tuesday, felt terrible about it like I always do so I hope I won't do it again. I'm 13 weeks now. My goal was to stop smoking completely by the end of the 1st trimester.

I don’t need the link thank you - I don’t know anyone who smokes!

And, I meant to add, nor do I have babies anymore - mine are still little but definitely not babies!

@Delbelleber I hope that you manage to quit fully, however, if not just be happy you've managed to cut down so much. Everyone has these ideals of what you have to do and what constitutes a good parent but sometimes it's not that easy.

There undoubtedly are risks and if you can manage to stop then go you. I know people who smoked more as it was their craving during pregnancy and their kids turned out fine.

On the other hand I know the healthiest of mums who do everything by the book and end up with children who have defects or illnesses.

Nothings in black and white, just do what you can manage and be proud that you've at least gotten that far.

I suppose I’d be interested to know more about the links between SIDS and smoking - the risks of smoking while pregnant and restricting oxygen are pretty clear and scientific. SIDS risks are often linked to correlative data rather than A directly causes B because... is the parent smoking risk perhaps down to the fact that those parents who drank alcohol/ were under the influence of drugs when sleeping with baby/letting baby sleep on them (which I hear is the highest kind kind of SIDS incident) just happen to be smokers too? Not saying smokers are also alcoholics and drug users obviously, but I would feel fairly confident in saying many alcohol abusers and drug users probably do smoke as well. That’s probably the more likely link - not a smoking visitor with traces cigarette smoke on their clothes coming to hold the baby once...

You are still exhaling carbon monoxide 45 minutes after having a cigarette and this is a sids risk for babies. So even if you smoked outside, came in and changed your clothes, it is still coming off your breath

I was a smoker before I got pregnant the day I found out I quit and never took one puff. My friend was also a smoker and smoked throughout her pregnancy even though her baby is okay I still would never advise it. I heard that apparently every puff you take your baby stops 'breathing' for a minute. If this is true or not I don't know but that alone made me not want to touch one while pregnant. Ask your midwife for advice and help normally your hospital will support you

Thanks for clarifying that @Rubyroost. I thought showering sounded very OTT and I’m a naturally cautious person! I will have a read of the NHS guidelines and will be following their advice.

Don't take my word for it @wondering7777 have a read if the nhs response to the original study and make your own mind up.

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/third-hand-smoke-danger/

I was born in 1972. My mother was a nurse and while they didn’t know the full ramifications of smoking during pregnancy, they knew that it was linked to low birth weights. She had an eating disorder and chose to smoke even more heavily during her pregnancy with me so that she wouldn’t put on weight. I was born at approximately 30 weeks gestation when they didn’t really know what they were doing with premmies. I wasn’t expected to survive. I had chronic asthma as a kid. I have a whole series of autoimmune problems. I was unable to breastfeed because of dna damage in utero. My brain produces all the hormones, but I don’t have milk ducts. That was really traumatic to discover. My brain is also full of tiny scars as though I have been a lifelong heavy smoker. I have never picked up a cigarette in my life. I get chronic, cycling migraines as a result that increase both my risk of epilepsy and stroke (despite having low blood pressure.) My neurologist says that he sees these symptoms grouped together in increasing numbers and suspects that they will be labeled as a “syndrome” one day. (Like foetal alcohol syndrome, but from tobacco abuse instead.)

I’m really quite judgemental when I see pregnant women smoking.

@justilou1 I wouldn't smoke during pregnancy, and I have been a smoker in the past. But, I understand that smoking is more addictive to heroin and so if a woman is attempting to reduce and eventually stop then I think that is a positive and I'm not going to judge. Carrying on as normal or heavily smoking in pregnancy is different. Some women have a relapse and smoke a few times during pregnancy. Whilst not ideal, I don't think it would do any way near the amount of damage as heavily smoking throughout pregnancy. I think smokers tryu g to stop should be supported, not ostracised.

Hi, I ended up here because I couldn't find a post about vaping during conception or pregnancy. I know that's quite specific. To give you some context - I fell pregnant in June and vaped throughout conception, up until I got a positive - then quit on the spot. My baby was diagnosed with T18 and I've always just known it was something I did. I spent days researching the effect of nicotine on cell division. One study suggested that nicotine itself has affected 24% of embryos who had various trisomies. I am certain that it's what caused my baby to have this horrible syndrome. After losing her at 17 weeks, I turned back to vaping, I just couldn't cope with the stress. I just found out I'm pregnant again, I was still vaping today. I am petrified that this is going to happen again. Has anyone vaped during their pregnancy? Of course I am binning that thing straight away but with trisomies, by this point, the damage would have already been done.

@riceandwhisky I was vaping before I found out I was pregnant. As far as I know my baby is fine. T18 is very rare. There must be loads of people who vape or smoke without realising early on . It's very likely to be fine. Fingers crossed for you.

I cut down to one a day as soon as I knew and have now not had any at all for 5 days (I’m 6+3)
For some reason DESPERATE for one over the past 24 hours! Couldn’t sleep last night for wanting one. Haven’t cracked, but it’s so tough! I wasn’t even a heavy smoker before pregnancy 🙄

This is one topic where there is not 2 sides to the argument. Just don’t do it.

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