First pregnancy.. struggles with all the no no's

[mom2be1987]

Hi I just found out I'm pregnant a few days ago. I'm exactly 5 weeks today.

I am really struggling with everything we can't do while pregnant.. smoking, coffee, vaping specifically..

I'm having some mild period like cramps at the moment

You can still have coffee, just check it's within the advised limits!

But yes, you'll have to stop smoking, vaping and drinking.

Read Emily Osters v good book

It's definitely a good idea to stop smoking but you can ask about nicotine replacement products at a pharmacy if you're struggling.

Coffee is ok in moderation, I think it's one strong coffee, 2 instant coffee or two cups of tea and Coke has even less. I avoided things like red bull completely.

Smoking raises the risk of serious health issues in the baby as well as still birth.
I've been a smoker when I got pregnant twice so I know what it's like. It's a no brainer really if you want this baby.

Please stop smoking/vaping.

Please continue to enjoy coffee!

I'm 24 weeks and about to have a coffee, otherwise I am not going to get through this afternoon/evening with my 4 and 5 year old

Hello!
As PP said, you can def still have coffee—about 12oz of the normal drip kind. Careful with your roasts though. The lighter the roast, the more caffeine it will have (and a lot won't tell you what that content is).
If you're like me and drink a lot of coffee throughout the day, you might find it easiest to do what I do and have one 8oz mug of normal caffeine coffee in the morning and then as much decaf as you want over the rest of the day (sometimes I'll have an extra third of a mug of normal coffee in the afternoon if I'm really struggling). I know it's not the same, but it helps you adjust to the change. Keep in mind that decaf does have a tiny bit of caffeine in it, so be sure to leave a little room for it.
Fortunately and unfortunately, a lot of women, myself included, develop an aversion to coffee around 6–8 weeks. It sucks because I mentally still wanted it, but my body was just not interested in it. It does help break the habit though if you have a serious coffee attachment like I did. Around 15 weeks is when my coffee aversion went away and now I'm happily having my 1 cup + decaf every day again. It's my new normal and I've adjusted. So just know that you will get used to it over time.

I don't smoke but I did have a bad vaping habit. Sadly, there's no way to really ease this. This is going to sound stupid, but when I was desperate I would hold my fingers together like I was holding a joint and then suck air in really hard through them, trying to really focus on the air hitting the back of my throat. Then I would hold it for a second or two to feel it in my lungs. Obviously it's not the same, but I think it helped a little. Maybe don't do that in public though bc it does look really silly haha
Anyway, it does get easier. I regularly go over a week without thinking of vaping and I definitely feel a lot better too (not to mention the money saved!). If you ever wanted to quit, you've got the best reason for it right now.

This is the start of being a mum and putting your child first. Some coffee is ok!

You can still have coffee. Even the ultra cautious NHS says you can have coffee.

A lot of other “no-nos” are internet rumour and you won’t actually find them forbidden in official NHS guidance.

Soft cheese, alcohol etc you can come to your own assessment about.

Surely you knew smoking was a no no before you got pregnant?!

@JellyBunny

This is the start of being a mum and putting your child first. Some coffee is ok!

This is so true… don’t beat yourself up, your body might take over. I went off so many foods, couldn’t stand the smell of smoke.

At present, I’d listen/read Alan carr’s book about smoking. Give that drug up. I’m glad I did. I didn’t read his book on smoking (gave up smoking without any hassle one day, having tried many times previously - for whatever reason, it was so easy once I was ready). I also found his book on stopping drinking really great. Good luck. You ARE doing it for your child.

@IzzyLeigh "like holding a joint" have I read that correct 😳

But honestly smoking and vaping and drinking are a no no so if you want a baby an to keep them healthy it's needs must.
Their a habbit not an essential

@isitbedyet haha yeah, I couldn’t think of a better way to explain it. Sorry. Marijuana is legal where I live, although I haven’t partaken in years upon years. Here’s a more socially acceptable description: hold your pointer finger and thumb together, like you’re pinching something between them and then suck air through where they meet. To me, I feel like that creates enough resistance to help get the sensation more closely (albeit obv not very closely) to how it is when I used to vape.
I know it sounds ridiculous, but it helped me a little. Baby is most important, so it’s worth a try if it’ll help ease your quitting

Just reading all your struggles helps me a lot with mine too. Of course I knew that smoking is a no no before getting pregnant, and my whole life I've always said "I'll quit when I'm pregnant" but still it's the most difficult thing ive had to do.

[quote IzzyLeigh]@isitbedyet haha yeah, I couldn’t think of a better way to explain it. Sorry. Marijuana is legal where I live, although I haven’t partaken in years upon years. Here’s a more socially acceptable description: hold your pointer finger and thumb together, like you’re pinching something between them and then suck air through where they meet. To me, I feel like that creates enough resistance to help get the sensation more closely (albeit obv not very closely) to how it is when I used to vape.
I know it sounds ridiculous, but it helped me a little. Baby is most important, so it’s worth a try if it’ll help ease your quitting[/quote]
Thanks I'll definitely try holding my thumb and index and pretend I'm smoking tonight 😂😂

@JellyBunny

This is the start of being a mum and putting your child first. Some coffee is ok!

Oh that's so cute

NHS stop smoking advice does not ban vaping during pregnancy, but is not advising that it is fine either....

"E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, the 2 main toxins in cigarette smoke. Carbon monoxide is particularly harmful to developing babies. The vapour from an e-cigarette does contain some of the potentially harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, but at much lower levels.

If using an e-cigarette helps you to stop smoking, it is much safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke."

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/stop-smoking/

[quote PegsandBags]NHS stop smoking advice does not ban vaping during pregnancy, but is not advising that it is fine either....

"E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, the 2 main toxins in cigarette smoke. Carbon monoxide is particularly harmful to developing babies. The vapour from an e-cigarette does contain some of the potentially harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, but at much lower levels.

If using an e-cigarette helps you to stop smoking, it is much safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke."

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/stop-smoking/[/quote]
OMG I love you! Thank you soooo much.

I'm still 5 weeks only.. my first appointment is in 2 weeks. So I'll definitely completely stop by then. But for now I'm taking it one day at a time..

I vaped throughout my pregnancy, all my midwives & consultants knew about it & no one said I should stop. DS is now nearly 6 months & perfectly healthy.

@Sula225

I vaped throughout my pregnancy, all my midwives & consultants knew about it & no one said I should stop. DS is now nearly 6 months & perfectly healthy.

You're giving me hope 😇 thank you!! I'm taking an occasional puff, trying to keep it out of reach.. trying to break the habit of grabbing it for a puff and replacing it with a sip of sparkling water lol

Are vapes even addictive?? Sorry Iv never smoked in my life or tried any kind of smoking but I didn’t think vaping was addictive so surly if it’s not you can just bin it immediately. And coffee is still ok. I still drink tea. 1-2 cups a day. I’m 15 weeks and all i seam to want us water or milk so I just go with what ever I fancy.

@Nikki037297

Are vapes even addictive?? Sorry Iv never smoked in my life or tried any kind of smoking but I didn’t think vaping was addictive so surly if it’s not you can just bin it immediately. And coffee is still ok. I still drink tea. 1-2 cups a day. I’m 15 weeks and all i seam to want us water or milk so I just go with what ever I fancy.

It's more the habit of vaping for me, that's why I tried replacing it with sparkling water

Ohhh I did wonder! Well give it a swap for something else

@IzzyLeigh is right about going off coffee. You feel like you need it but literally cannot drink it until well into second trimester. Sorry xx

Everything I loved you seemed not to be allowed.: goats cheese, hot baths for hours on end, wine 🤦🏼‍♀️😂 I felt like new things were just getting added to the rules every 5 minutes to the point I couldn’t do anything! We have sheep and it said I wasn’t to touch female sheep and I though oh ffs what now 🙈

@Sarah13xx

Everything I loved you seemed not to be allowed.: goats cheese, hot baths for hours on end, wine 🤦🏼‍♀️😂 I felt like new things were just getting added to the rules every 5 minutes to the point I couldn’t do anything! We have sheep and it said I wasn’t to touch female sheep and I though oh ffs what now 🙈

Hahaha!!! Me too! My friends that have been pregnant before keep sending me randomly things I can't eat or drink! Fish, coke, fennel, the list goes on and onnnn.. oh and CATS!