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

[needtostop]

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?

Sorry i havent read all the post so i apologise if this has already been said but

DO NOT used patches or nic gum if your pregers (well at lest that what my midwife told me !!!)

Break existing fags up and flush down toliet - do not make any further purchases..from that moment on you are an ex-smoker

I found out I was pregnant whilst travelling and surrounded by people smoking and drinking (including dh)

I gave up the day I did the test and what worked for me was imagining my baby with a cigarette in its mouth

every time I wanted one, I thought of this image. That put me off for 10 mins, then 20 mins, then an hour, etc etc and before you know it you have done a few days.

That and eating a lot (and hey, you are pregnant so why not)

I don't judge on anything much but smoking when pregnant is a huge no no in my book and it is possible to stop so no more excuses.

Hi everyone

I have nearly finished the allan carr book and just wanted a bit of ecouragement. Ive got a 1/4 of the book to go and im starting to panic cos although EVERYTHING he says makes perfect sense I still havent had the epiphany I thought that I might.

Can anyone who has done allan carr tell me how it actually works at the end?

I have now realised that cutting down is the wrong way to go about htings because it ust makes each cigarette you smoke appear to be more precious because the need for nicotine is so high by the time you smoke each cigarette it makes it unfeasible that you could live without them.

Well done on getting so far.

Come and post on here everytime you want a cigarette and put a coin in a pot. You will soon see you are getting somewhere.

needtostop - if allan carr hasn't worked maybe you need to keep trying other methods until something does eg acupuncture or going to see a hypnotherapist. I have never smoked but I used to drink nearly every day - to de-stress after work. I was drinking above the recommended units. I felt ashamed for ds to see it as part of his mummy's routine. I gave up when pregnant with ds but started again when I had him (intake gradually increasing over time), then I had 3 m/c and used alcohol to cope with them. Now I am trying again and have drastically cut down so that I am only drinking a bit at the weekend. I don't know what has changed but I know this time I will stick to it. I also want to stick to it after a pregnancy. I feel healthier and happier and have more self-pride. Smoking is different - I realise you can't just smoke at the weekend. What I wanted to say though is that it would be great if you can continue not to smoke after your pregnancy as children of smokers are more likely to get illnesses. Plus you won't have to go through this torment when you are pregnant the next time. Good luck with it all.

Hi everyone

Wellllllllllllllllllll I am ECSTATIC to tell you that I finished the book yesterday had the all important "LAST CIGARETTE" at 8pm last night and havent even thought about it at all, not a single pang, craving or depressed thought at all.

I am tentatively hoping that THIS IS IT!

I WISH I had read the book early on in the pregnancy. But I didnt.

At least now, my baby can have the clean oxygenated blood he deserves for the remainder and I just have to hope and pray that I havent done him any harm so far.

Thank you so much for everything xxx

PS sunshinegirl - is it ok for me to keep hold of teh book for just a little while longer, Im a bit scared to let it go just yet!

nobody pleased for me

Am now approaching 48 hours and feeling great

well done-you are now a non-smoker.What a great feeling,you must be very proud!!

I'm pleased 4 U, need2stop. Keep up the good work.

WELL DONE!!!!

I am very proud but also more ashamed than ever - now the nicotine fog has lifted (literally!) I cant quite believe that I continued for so long.

Feels really good that I will be giving birth a non smoker though

Oh well done! It IS completely FANTASTIC being a non smoker, I have been clean now for 4.5 years and it's fantastic being freeeeeeee to misquote Carr.

Forget what you have done!! Concentrate that you are a mum about to have a baby. Not even a non-smoker. It is irrelevant. Doesn't even enter your head anything to do with

I am completely evangelical about allen carr - as annoying as he is at times I cant BELIEVE how effective the book is!!!

I have not had a single craving in these 48 hours - not 1!!!

I have failed to stop so many times with patches, gum etc

This time not a patch in sight and really do feel FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

You know what? This is the single best thing you could have done for your child.