Breathing in smoke

[PurpleCurtain]

Like the rest of the UK, we've been hosting some people in the garden this weekend. To keep warm, we lit the chimenea, and I sat right by it. To start with (maybe for an hour or so) I sat right in front of it as it smoked and started to get going. We were burning wood. I made comments about getting all of the smoke and none of the warmth, but my brain didn't click into gear that it wasn't healthy for me to be sat there and that I was directly breathing smoke in for quite a while - I think I mostly just really missed the smell and taste of smoke.

I know there's nothing I can do about this now, but just how bad is this? 1hr ish of pretty intense smoke exposure at 6 months pregnant? I know smoke inhalation generally can bring increased SIDS risk as well as other problems - is that all types of smoke exposure, or just cigarette smoke? My family want to keep using the chiminea and say it's fine, but they weren't sat where I was in terms of quantities of smoke - so I'm really keen to know if it's safe for me to be out there with it on or if I should push back.

Does anyone know anything about this? My position is that I'm uncomfortable exposing myself again, but I don't want to cause a family argument - and the way my family see it, it's not a risk and I'm stopping them seeing us if no chiminea as otherwise it's too cold.

I would honestly not worry about 1 hour of smoke at 6 months - but going forward maybe I'd call the midwife advice line and see what they say x

Thanks @georgarina. Yesterday it was incredibly windy and I was sat right in front of it/ in the smoke's path. Obviously only I was in exactly that seat so noone else has a gauge of just how much smoke I inhaled. Perhaps I wouldn't be feeling so nervous about using it in future if I could sit further away/ it's not a windy day. Having felt pretty down about not seeing relatives I now feel stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to future days.

Ask your midwife to check your CO level at your next appointment - mines only just retesting in the last month due to covid, it'll give you an idea of how much carbon monoxide you've been exposed to - it's predominantly used for smokers but She told me hers varies a lot depending on if she's had to make the commute into work or BBQs (she doesn't smoke)

May not be overly accurate but it'll give you some insight

I would check with your midwife for your own reassurance, but I wouldn’t worry about it! When I was pregnant with DD1, we went on what was meant to be a relaxing babymoon to Crete. Unfortunately pretty much everyone seems to smoke over there, in the restaurants, by the pool, on the beach, I literally couldn’t escape it for a whole week! I was pretty stressed about it at the time but I have a very healthy and bright 18 month old now so it was all fine in the end!

Just think there are women who smoke throughout their pregnancies and still have healthy babies.

You'll be fine

@Chelyanne

Just think there are women who smoke throughout their pregnancies and still have healthy babies. You'll be fine

Not sure this logic works to reassure people, sorry. Some things may "only" be an increased risk rather than any certain damage, but an increased risk is still worrying, particularly with things like SIDS where the reassurance for many (including me) comes from just how rare it is AND that we have done everything in our own control to keep the risk at its absolute minimum. If that's no longer the case it's a worry for people even if the risk is still minimal. In this case I don't really know whether this is comparable to cigarette fumes or not (partly why I'm asking), but the challenge I'm facing is that my family don't agree that there is any increased risk and are therefore insistent that I continue to expose myself.

But you haven't because you sat there ages and worrying as an afterthought.

Would you rather hear all the horror stories and subject your unborn baby to a stupid level of stress hormone? Relax, it was short term and you can't alter what is done. Just don't do it again.

@Chelyanne... I haven't what? Sorry, didn't quite follow the comment.

Agreed stress is not healthy (though I dont think studies about low levels of maternal stress seem very conclusive), but as mentioned I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place in that I am stressed that my family want to continue to use chimineas/ garden fires around me as they don't think there is any risk.

You don't want to be around these things then don't go! You can't expect other people to adjust everything to suit you as an individual, you're pregnant for a limited time. You'll not be having baby in these situations once here so take yourself out of them regardless of what other people expect you to do.

OP I think a one off case will have done very little damage, and the wind may have made it feel more smokey but was in fact dispersing it (if that makes sense). Definitely speak to your midwife if you are concerned.

If you want to keep seeing family outdoors, I'd suggest someone else is responsible for the chimnea and you get priority choice of seat (eg furthest away and/or not in the direction of smoke). Get some extra blankets and a hot water bottle for you to keep you warm. If they downplay your concerns, then tell them you're just trying to do what's best for baby. I'm sure they'd understand though, if it means you all get to keep socialising in the meantime.

Well if your family use it can’t you sit in the opposite direction of the wind so it’s not blowing in your direction? Or sit further away from it

I'll try and sit further away - we live on a hill though and are the only ones with outdoor space, so it's regularly very windy and most spots in our small yard end up down wind at some point. Walks are no good as alternatives due to family mobility issues.

It's not as simple as "don't go" when it's our house and there are damaged relationships, and mine and my partners mental health from otherwise not seeing anyone else, at stake too. Afraid relatives currently think I am better protecting the baby by seeing them than by avoiding smoke. Hence I'm trying to understand whether there would indeed be an increased SIDS risk; it would certainly be more concentrated smoke than secondhand tobacco smoke but as people have said it's hard to work out how much is really inhaled and how bad the chemicals really are - I don't think it seems to be clear which of the chemicals in tobacco smoke have the primary link to SIDS or other risks. Sorry, as I say, feel stuck in my decision about future exposure here.