Smoking / 4 weeks pregnant

[Orangejuiceandlemonade88]

I'm 4weeks and 1 day pregnant and I found this out 4 days ago.

Please no judgement, I'm already in a bad place about it, I am just looking for sound advice, similar situations or words of wisdom.

Until my positive pregnancy test I smoked anywhere between 10-15 cigarettes a day and have done for 15 years. Since I found out I am pregnant, I have cut down to 4-5 a day but I want to stop completely by week 6 at the very very very latest. I feel utter guilt every time I light up but the cravings are so intense.

I'm terrified I've already caused damage already however I will quit, I will! But I want to speak to other ladies who have experienced similar. Did you smoke whilst pregnant? What did you do? What worked? What didn't? When did you quit?

Thank you x

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@Orangejuiceandlemonade88

I'm 4weeks and 1 day pregnant and I found this out 4 days ago.

Please no judgement, I'm already in a bad place about it, I am just looking for sound advice, similar situations or words of wisdom.

Until my positive pregnancy test I smoked anywhere between 10-15 cigarettes a day and have done for 15 years. Since I found out I am pregnant, I have cut down to 4-5 a day but I want to stop completely by week 6 at the very very very latest. I feel utter guilt every time I light up but the cravings are so intense.

I'm terrified I've already caused damage already however I will quit, I will! But I want to speak to other ladies who have experienced similar. Did you smoke whilst pregnant? What did you do? What worked? What didn't? When did you quit?

Thank you x

Ok so I found out exactly at 4 weeks that's I was pregnant. I found out in A&E 🙈🤣 when I walked out of the hospital I just threw away the box I had and I havnt had one since! I'm now 10 weeks. I was a heavy smoker as well for around 8 years. I would have about 15/18 cigs a day. The problem is though I've now put on a stone in a month because I can't stop eating due to quitting smoking. Quitting smoking is the hardest thing ever. The cravings are ridiculous so you just need to take your time and do it at your pace! You've already cut down to 4/5 which is amazing! In the beginning I would honestly cry where I wanted one so badly but I promise as the weeks go on it gets easier. There are lots of apps and also vaping I heard is much better while pregnant. So maybe look into that xx

I found out at 4 weeks as well (13 +1) now and baby is doing fine.

I was also a smoker, 20+ a day and I really dreaded stopping. I smoked my last cigarette the morning I found out(before doing the test) and haven’t had one since. Probably for me being sick and having nausea since 5 weeks really helped me not to crave them.

I know how hard it is and for the first few days I really wanted one but my fear of harming the baby overpowered my desire for a cig. I know not everyone can stop as easy as that, try to cut down and much as possible until you can stop. But don’t beat yourself up everyday as at the end of the day you have an addiction.

I wish you well.

I found out at about six weeks and had been smoking heavily until then. I gave up straight away. Baby was born a good weight and perfectly healthy.

As a parent, guilt is part of the territory, so stop now, right now, one less thing to feel guilty about and give yourself a chance to enjoy your pregnancy without feeling bad from the start.. You'll be glad you did. Good luck OP x

I gave up in my twenties but it was probably until my mid thirties that I stopped wanting one! It's the hardest thing - luckily for you, you've got a great incentive!

It might be worth speaking to your GP in the interim to see if there is any support, if not your midwife should be able to give you advice & support when you have your booking in. Good luck OP.

I was a heavy smoker. I was determined to quit before we ttc. I had my last cigarette in May, and went onto patches and nicotine spray straight away. I fell pregnant in June, but it ended as mmc unfortunately.

I’m now 12+4 and so happy I didn’t take it back up again.

I think I just focused hard on the baby I wanted, & what was more important to me to get through the habit, and the month of patches and spray helped with the physical side. My doctor said they were safe for pregnancy, but I did stop using them when I found out just in case.

Good luck! You can totally do this.

You just have to stop and deal with the pain I’m afraid.

Why would you even consider smoking for two more weeks . You have a baby to put first now and if you can’t do that you aren’t ready for one.
There are loads of tips and a phone number to ring here, assuming you’re based in the UK
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/smoking-pregnant/
Good luck.

My mum smoked until she knew she was pregnant 3 months in. Then she stopped cold turkey. I turned out fine, was a healthy weight, never had asthma, did well at school, got a degree.... so please don’t feel great guilt. You have done well cutting down and I know you’ll get there.

Please ignore the one poster who claims you're not ready to be a mum because you're struggling to stop smoking.

It's bloody hard.

However, you have the absolute incentive you need. You've cut right down so you're on the right track. I highly recommend the NHS Stop Smoking website. Try to figure out how much your smoking is about physical addiction vs habit. If it's physical, you need to speak to your doctor or midwife or pharmacist about nicotine patches as I'm not sure what the recommendation for these is in pregnancy.

To stop, you have to really want it. It's terrifying, but if you want it, you can do it.

Cravings in the beginning will be constant and irritating. But remember that no single craving lasts more than7 minutes. Admittedly, they can be back to back in the beginning.... But you can hold out for that long.

Figure out what treats will help. I bought lots of ridiculous expensive imported fruit like cherries and the like to nibble on. Also, as I hated the small, I splashed out on a few fancy hand creams etc to remind myself of how lovely it is not to smell like an ashtray. Do whatever works for you. A friend drew the money she'd usually have spent on cigarettes and saved it then used it to take herself on holiday after a year.

Think about all the benefits of not smoking beyond the obvious ones - they might vary for you but for example, mine included hanging out with friends who didn't smoke without feeling like a pariah, being able to sit for an entire meal in a restaurant without having to go outside huddling in the dark/cold/wet, the smell thing I already mentioned. e

Good luck OP. You can do this.

Motherhood is about putting your baby first. Every time OP lights up she is putting her craving first.

@LouisLitt absolutely, but if addiction was that easy to crack, it wouldn’t be an addiction.

She’s come here for help, not to feel like crap. She IS making the choice for her baby, just asking us if we have advice to make it easier, which lots of people have given.

A little empathy, & kindness may have been a better approach

[quote Sansa87]@LouisLitt absolutely, but if addiction was that easy to crack, it wouldn’t be an addiction.

She’s come here for help, not to feel like crap. She IS making the choice for her baby, just asking us if we have advice to make it easier, which lots of people have given.

A little empathy, & kindness may have been a better approach[/quote]
yes - this.

And none of us are perfect. OP is trying which is first step in the right direction.

I think you need to try and go cold turkey immediately. Hopefully some of the above apps can help, it’s a bit early but midwives can help too- round here when I was pregnant you got referred to a special stop smoking bod if you were still smoking by the time you had a midwife (not that that’s a reason to keep going for now!). Your gp might be able to point you in the right direction.
Best of luck.

@LouisLitt You've made two posts, one saying I'm not ready to be a mother (thanks very much, really hurtful words actually) and the other saying I'm not putting my baby first. Do you get joy out of making people feel as awful as possible who have already said they are feeling terrible? I came here to ask fellow smokers what they did etc.

You are clearly a very perfect person who has never made any sort of mistake so I'd appreciate if you'd stay of my post because you're not here because you can relate or can help, you are just cruel.

Everyone else, thank you so much for the words of encouragement and advice. I've called my GP today and have referred to a wellbeing centre for quitting smoking. I've given myself a quit date of this Sunday, between now and then I will have no more than 3 a day and then I will be on the programme. I know I can do this and I want to do this and I will do this!

I have no similar story but was intrigued in the post. I want to say how amazing you've done so far and to just keep pushing to go less and less. Well done you, I think its too easy for people to judge on here. Keep us updated.

The sooner you stop completely, ironically, the better. I met a man once who told me that when he stopped, he told himself after a year he could have ONE. Within weeks of the year being up, he was back to smoking 20+ a day. I think if you're constantly telling yourself that you can have one in 2 hours, 1 hour, 30 minutes etc etc, you're not actually getting the mindset right.

It's completely understandable, so not criticising you, but just making the point that ironically, getting it over with right up front might help.

Try not to worry and feel guilty. Yes I did smoke through my first pregnancy 22yrs ago and told the midwife I'd cut down to 5 a day. She wasn't concerned. She even said that the stress of trying to give up would be stressful and may cause more damage but I very much doubt one would say that today.Second pregnancy I did the same. Felt awful, never smoked in public but again told my midwife.

I ate really well and didn't drink alcohol and had natural problem free deliveries.

If I was pregnant now I would vape but they weren't around when I was.
Both babies healthy and good weight. Now 21 and 16 in perfect health.

I wish you a happy healthy pregnancy.

@LouisLitt maybe stop being so judgemental, I'm going to assume you have never smoked based on your comments?

@Orangejuiceandlemonade88 it is so hard but you will quit for you baby, I done it twice with both my girls, I'm now pregnant again, however this time I had quit before falling pregnant and feel so much better for it. If you are worried contact your doctor and they can help. Good luck xx

Giving up smoking is so hard, so well done on your progress so far! When I quit I wouldn’t have been able to do it without nicotine patches and lozenges. If you find going cutting back/cold turkey too hard, maybe ask your GP or pharmacist about using those?

And if you do carry on cutting down to none, remember that the first three days of no cigarettes is the worst, and then the horrible symptoms will ease off. I also found the Allen Carr book really motivation for getting your head in gear for quitting and understanding how addiction works, so it’s well worth a read. Good luck!

Nicotine gum and spray etc can really help too (when quitting) and are much “healthier” than actually smoking. But do try to follow whatever programme they put you on come Sunday!
Best of luck with it but you’ll be great x

Have you tried vaping instead?