Smoking while pregnant

[Eimz]

I am really beating myself up about the smoking. I am currently 18weeks pregnant and smoker , since I found out I was pregnant I have really cut back a lot. I do not smoke a full cigarette I ask my partner or friends for a couple of drags.. all day in work I don't smoke it's just when I'm home. Does anyone know how truly harmful this is for the baby? I know people who smoked during pregnancy a lot more then me.. I know I cant justify my smoking but I really am only taking pulls and then literally downing a gallon of water to try make myself feel better :(
I've loads going on I've failed my driving test and an exam I was doing and my partner is between jobs and my mam is fighting with me and sometimes I just need the odd drag or two too calm me down

Well done on cutting down so much, can’t be easy! Remind your Mom that smoking in a car with a child has a penalty charge of 100 euro, so she might as well stop doing that now....

There's a video of an ultrasound showing the babies reaction to the mum smoking, literally babies hands over it's face trying to stop the smoke and then coughing and exhaling smoke, I know a lot of women have said before it really helped them really realise the impact because they could actually see it for themselves. I'll try and find it for you and I hope it may help you too.

Found it! I hope it helps.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ychve_pUVnw

To the people who are piling on the guilt here - don't you realise that the complex addiction the OP has is actually triggered by stressors such as guilt?! Shes reaching out for help here and you are making it worse.

OP great you have cut down but you really need to stop for the sake of your baby. Set a quiet date for a week from today. Every time you up until then you have a drag think about why you are having that particular cigarette (is it because you are stressed? Is it habit to have one first thing etc) and think about something you could do instead. Then on quit date you will have thought through lots of different alternatives to smoking. Write them down as you go along. Also write a list of the reasons you want to quit and refer to it when you feel tempted. Good luck.

That sounds tough. It sounds like you have really cut down which is great. My sister didn't sadly and her little one was born with breathing difficulties. We can all shout you down on here but if your having difficulties you need to ensure your health professionals know exactly what your smoking so they can be prepared when your little one is born. Be aware that smoking in the house with a baby increases the risk of SIDS so think about putting things in place now. I wouldnt suggest vapes as there is no research currently on there potential risks but from my OH experience he used to just vape all day so actually increased his nicotine intake.

Op, I was a smoker for 10 years and like you I was desperate to quit. Someone recommended a book called 'Alan carrs easy way to stop smoking' . I read it, and have now been smoke free for two years thanks to that book. You can get it on ebay and amazon really cheap! People swear by it, go read the reviews!

To the people who are piling on the guilt here - don't you realise that the complex addiction the OP has is actually triggered by stressors such as guilt?! Shes reaching out for help here and you are making it worse.

Absolutely this.

We can all shout you down on here

Why on earth would you want to do that on someone's support thread?

PencilsInSpace, they will judge, it's human nature. It doesn't matter how professional you are, you will raise an eyebrow or two at that woman that has gone out in her dressing down, leaving her newborn baby, to go and smoke then came back in and picked the baby up in their stinking dressing gown. Then they'll wonder why despite all the well known risks, they didn't stop. People will judge, even the professionals but kid yourself that they're too busy to do so! I was on a post labour ward next to a woman that smoked. The words that the midwives and HCA's said don't support your view that they don't have time to judge! Things like "Poor baby, hopefully the health visitor says something" and "I can't believe in this day and age they're still at it, it's only 9 months of their lives". Then the obvious "I bet she's smoking on hospital grounds, when are they going to start paying attention to the signs?"

Can you switch to vaping with a nicotine-free liquid immediately? Also, the Allen Carr 'How to stop smoking for good' is an excellent read and I genuinely found it impossible to continue smoking whilst reading it because it explains what the tobacco is doing to your body, how it is a poison.

Also, try to break the routine of smoking. If you feel like having a cigarette, try having a relaxing bath and pampering yourself instead. Crossword/phone game instead of a cigarette.

Good luck.

"I don't smoke every day but I did today , I went for dinner with my friends and then after the food everyone went to the smoking area for a smoke so I smoked.. after the few pulls I threw it away"

Could you not have just stayed at the table until they came back? If they all went to the smoking area then they weren't doing it right in front of you.

I'm TTC and still smoking and this thread is making me more determined to give up before I fall pregnant! Off to bed to read the Allen Carr book I've had on loan from the library for 3 months!

@Ginger1982 we had all paid for the food and the lady was clearing up the table the place was busy and I would have been sat on my own.

@JaffaCakeGal I wish you the best best of luck

Here is a collection of reliable resources on vaping in pregnancy:

smokefreeaction.org.uk/smokefree-nhs/smoking-in-pregnancy-challenge-group/smoking-in-pregnancy-challenge-group-resources/e-cigarettes-in-pregnancy/

The UK are world leaders on this stuff. There's not much to feel proud of about this country at the moment but this I do.

Don't get overwhelmed, OP. Just read this one, it's very good:

smokefreeaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-Challenge-Group-ecig-summary_A5_FINAL.pdf

@eimz you too! I was an ex-smoker for a few years and I was one of those preachy types too and I still went back to it! And I always said I wouldn't smoke if I got pregnant but now I feel panicky as I can't guarantee that claim any more! I hope you find the willpower to quit yourself.

The words that the midwives and HCA's said don't support your view that they don't have time to judge! Things like "Poor baby, hopefully the health visitor says something" and "I can't believe in this day and age they're still at it, it's only 9 months of their lives". Then the obvious "I bet she's smoking on hospital grounds, when are they going to start paying attention to the signs?"

Really? You heard health care professionals saying these things about a patient in the next bed to you and you didn't report them? Why not?

I smoked for 15 years and just stopped. I didn’t make a big deal of it. I didn’t plan. I didn’t do the “this is my last one” just stopped and didn’t think of it. Go for scare tactics- look on YouTube for smoking related illness, smoking in pregnancy, look at how disgusting a smokers placenta is compared to a non smokers placenta.

Changed my opinion, you came on here saying you felt guilty, 5 mins later you're out smoking. Get a grip and prioritise that tiny life who depends on you. You're friends smoked, you didnt have to go to the smoking area. You're 22 you can wait at the table yourself your not a baby. You need to grow up and take responsibility. You could be intentionally damaging you're child. I had asthma and my mum smoked in the house, I havent forgotten and it did damage me. Selfish selfish selfish.

"@Ginger1982 we had all paid for the food and the lady was clearing up the table the place was busy and I would have been sat on my own."

So instead of waiting at the table and playing on your phone for ten mins or so, you went to an area where you knew everyone would be smoking and then had a few puffs yourself? Sorry, whilst I get that living with people who smoke must be very hard, the restaurant situation was one you could have avoided if you'd really wanted to.

I have a family member who smoked when pregnant and the baby died from SIDS.

It's just not worth the risk.

Found it! I hope it helps.

Of course it doesn't.

Could you at least try vaping? It is better for the baby.

Definitely ask your midwife or GP for help.

Can you imagine blowing smoke into a newborn's face? Smoking when pregnant is even worse as it's reducing the oxygen from the baby in utero.

I'm one of those who struggled to quit until
I got pregnancy then stopped immediately. It's the only time I found it easy to stop.

Best of luck to you. It's hard when everyone in your household is smoking.

And it is easy to stop or switch to an alternative just like that if you have good enough reason. I stopped a 20 a day habit after witnessing a relative die of terminal lung cancer (caused by smoking)

So really I would advise you to quit baby or not, you are young enough to undo the damage.