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

Original poster

I smoke. I'm Pregnant, I need to stop. I need to know what damage I have already done.

167 replies

needtostop · 15/09/2007 17:40

I am 24 weeks pregnant.

I used to smoke 15 - 20 a day.

I'm now smoking between 2 and 8 a day.

I have had a few days where I have smoked as many as 10-12.

I need to know how much damage I might have done to the baby?

Could I have already of made him ill.

Ive just been in so much denial but really really want to stop.

Can I use patches?

If I stop now could I turn things around or is it too late?

OP posts:
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suzywong · 15/09/2007 17:43

take your fags
flush them down the lav
end of story

TheBlonde · 15/09/2007 17:44

You should contact your MW
They have special smoking cessation MWs to help support you in cutting down/ stopping altogether

It is never too late

LyraBelacqua · 15/09/2007 17:44

Yes you could have done him damage already. Stop now and get some patches/nicotine gum. Go to your GP/midwife who will give you support.
Every time you feel the urge to light up, think of all the poisons flowing into your baby's blood. Then put the fag away.

Original poster
needtostop · 15/09/2007 17:44

I know, I need to do that.

Have been thinking that since 6 weeks.

How the hell i have got this far i dont know.

Despicable.

What will the damage be now?

Can I turn things around?

OP posts:
Original poster
needtostop · 15/09/2007 17:45

Lyra, those words are so hurtful - but entirely true.

Why should they suprise me?

Why can I not connect with what Im actually doing.

When I see a pregnant woman I judge but FFS I AM ONE

OP posts:
LyraBelacqua · 15/09/2007 17:45

Patches have got to be better for the baby because they don't contain the cocktail of poisons. You need to stop right now.

JeremyVile · 15/09/2007 17:47

Stop worrying about damage already done - you cant change it now.

But STOP - just stop, not even one more.

Look at how bad you feel, its not worth it at all.

Its awful,you know it is - so stop doing it. Now.

LadyTophamHatt · 15/09/2007 17:47

Just imagine pushing your newborn baby down the highstreet, in his lovely new pram and some stranger come up, leans in to look at him and blows smoke straight in his face.

How would that make you feel?

Because IMO that pretty much what you are doing every single day.

Sorry, I'm glad yuo're asking for help, its brilliant you've cut down but pregnant smokers make me

MrsTittleMouse · 15/09/2007 17:49

It is always worth stopping, so it isn't too late. There is nothing that you can do about the last 24 weeks, but there is everything that you can do about the next 16 weeks. Plus, giving up now will mean that you will be a non-smoker by the time that your baby is born, which will mean that you will never smoke around your child.
There is extra help available for pregnant women to stop smoking. Have you talked to your midwife?

Original poster
needtostop · 15/09/2007 17:49

LadyTophamHatt

Your right, its abhorrent, its disgusting, its awful, I dont deserve this baby

So why the fuck do I put it in my mouth.

Everything disappears when I do, admittedly even the thoughts of my baby.

OP posts:
fillyjonk · 15/09/2007 17:50

yes damage may already have been done. I think you are looking at things like low birthweight, asthma, increased risk of cot death etc.

but MUCH more damage will be done if you continue. And the risk of damage will increase the longer you continue. So no, it is not too late.

Clearly you are finding it hard to stop without support. This is not suprising as nicotine is a highly addictive drug. There is no shame in finding it hard to give up, only in not seeking help to give up.

I think you should speak to a MW, and be stroppy about getting what support you need. This is an addiction, like any other, and thusly is a medical condition for which you deserve help and treatment.

I would be astonished if you couldn't use patches, tbh. I can't imagine that they are worse than cigarettes.

I also think you are being very brave in posting this. Good luck.

fillyjonk · 15/09/2007 17:52

some effects of smoking in pregnancy

LyraBelacqua · 15/09/2007 17:53

Throw them away and don't buy any more. If you haven't got them, you can't smoke them. Have you tried nicotine gum? I gave up earlier this year (I didn't smoke while pg) and the gum really dampens the cravings so you can manage them. You've got to at least give it a try. Cigarettes deprive your baby of oxygen. Giving up is hard but you'll be so proud of yourself when you give birth to a healthy baby instead of a low birth weight one.

littleducks · 15/09/2007 17:58

Does your midwife know you smoke? Mine asked me at booking in, so if they know i would talk to them. There is some info on http://www.gosmokefree.co.uk/whygosmokefree/smokingpregnancy/ this page which suggests you can use patches, for full advice ring the nhs pregnancy stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 9 169.

fillyjonk · 15/09/2007 18:13

but honestly, it is NOT as easy as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away

nicotine is more addictive than heroin.

I am picking up on these comments mainly because I think the OP needs to recognise that she needs help.

She has said that the cigarettes come first, before her baby's health even. That is a classic symptom of an addiction.

She needs help to stop NOW, but she ALSO needs some ongoing support. It is very common for women to give up in pregnancy, then restart after the baby is born. This is really not a good idea.

LadyTophamHatt · 15/09/2007 18:16

"Your right, its abhorrent, its disgusting, its awful, I dont deserve this baby"

I agree with every word except the last 5.

Its easy for me to say, I've neve smoked but just think of the baby^

KerryMum · 15/09/2007 18:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WideWebWitch · 15/09/2007 18:20

Gosh everyone, I think you're all being v harsh on the OP, she is already disgusted with herself adn has come here for advice on how to do it.

OP, well done for wanting to stop, it's bloody hard but you will feel SO brilliant for stopping I promise. I recommend Allen Carr's the easy way to stop smoking but I also think you should ask for your mw's help. I gave up both times I was pregnant (and didn't go back to it the second time, five yrs ago now since I smoked). There's no point in worrying about what might be done, although your mw can tell you more but what you can do is stop now and that will help your baby enormously.

Fwiw, I know someone who smoked through 2 pregnancies and has 2 healthy children. That is not to say I condone smoking in pregnancy, I don't but I want to offer you some potential comfort as well as advice.

Good for you for deciding to stop, you know I think that's the hardest bit. It's a vile drug nicotine. Good luck

zookeeper · 15/09/2007 18:23

A lot of smokers continue through pregnancies so you're not the only one.

If you can't stop could you at least try to cut down?

fillyjonk · 15/09/2007 18:25

nope, disagree kerrymum

there is much research on addiction. it does affect people differently and different people need different approaches to giving up.

I think it is pretty clear that the OP does want to give up. But she can't.

allan carr is meant to be good

zookeeper · 15/09/2007 18:27

allen Carr worked for me - I would definitely recommend it.

If it was as easy as you say to give up Kerrymum then there would be a lot less smokers.

KD73 · 15/09/2007 18:31

In May I slept with 3 men regularly !!!

Went to bed with mp3 player in ears and Paul McKenna. Listened during day time and thought it was a load of ** and amazed the man had managed to flog the rubbish.... however friend recommended I listened at night effectively went to sleep with it on.

Worked wonders whereas had failed previously with gum, cessation classes and patches. At £7 in Tesco its not much more than a packet of fags - what have you got to lose?

LyraBelacqua · 15/09/2007 18:44

KD73, do they do those for losing weight too?

KD73 · 15/09/2007 18:48

Lyra,

Bought the slimming one which didn't seem to work

Friend also bought the slimming one and found she didn't lose weight - but did stop smoking

LyraBelacqua · 15/09/2007 18:50

What's it called? I might give it a go anyway.