Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

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

Smoking while pregnant

93 replies

scardycatsmoker · 22/01/2010 21:23

Hi ladies

I'm looking for a bit of help to stop smoking - I currently smoke 10 a day and know thats too much. I want to give up all together but not sure how to. If almost 6 months pregnant and have been trying to stop on and off since finding out i was pregnant. When i have given up for a few days i end up eating like a pig and this stresses me out so i end up smoking again.

My bf smokes so that is making it harder i think. He is also worried about the weight gain if i stop and replace the smoking with eating.

Hope someone can help

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
rosieposey · 22/01/2010 23:27

Yep the OP wanted advice in giving up smoking and basically she needs help from her Midwife or GP.

mummyscrummy · 22/01/2010 23:28

I agree rosie!

trellism · 22/01/2010 23:30

She can express her opinion, and indeed all the nutjob conspiracy theories she likes.

But the op wanted advice on giving up smoking, not permission to continue.

Remotew · 22/01/2010 23:32

Barbie are you OK? OMG I didn't realise you are due so soon. We are wqiting on a new baby in our family very soon. It's my neice and the baby is going to be around 5lb. And no she didn't smoke. xx just to you barbie.

Remotew · 22/01/2010 23:39

mummys, It's hard to argue against the brainwashing that people are subjected to everyday, but I do fancy defending my side sometimes when because I am a single mum that smokes my kid is going to have a low IQ and commit crime I do but in and give IMHO

BarbieLovesKen · 22/01/2010 23:42

Oh eve stop being so nice to me!!!

Im fine, cant wait to meet little one and if Im honest have this pregnancy over and done with. Baby highly unlikely to come on due date though, I think and I was 11 days over with my dd so am expecting the same.

Thank you so much for asking though, sending best wishes to your niece and hope its a very healthy baby. A baby is always such a lovely fresh start.

(sorry for hijack op!!)

ArcticFox · 22/01/2010 23:44

Actually- that's quite a good point. When they do the stats for " your baby is likely to be born with a lower IQ" if you smoke whilst pregnant, do they adjust for social factors first?

i.e. mothers who smoke whilst pregnant are more likely to be from a lower social class (shoot me but it's true) and likely to have a lower IQ (shoot me again but today generally you can correlate IQ and educational achievement in a way you couldn't a generation ago). As intelligence is largely genetic they should adjust the stats for expected IQ so the impact might not be as major as implied.

About eve- before you start telling me that I'm wrong because you are entirely middle class, please note that I am not talking about you- I am talking in terms of the entire population.

NeedCoffee · 22/01/2010 23:45

Barbie-You have done SO well for stopping, I couldn't do it when I was prg, I was too stressed however I have been stopped for a few months now, I really don't know how you managed to do it with all that stress as well. Not sure if you're going to be bf and if it will be affected-but I have been using Champix which really take away the enjoyment of smoking, crap when you have a drink but best in the long run. Think Zyban is similar and there are other aids to help (none of which worked form ewhich is why I'm mentioning Champix). Get help to stay stopped after the birth, it'll be the best thing you ever did. Good luck for the birth

Scardycatsmoker-The last thing you should be worried about is putting a bit of weight on, I'd asked OH to not smoke near you, so it decreases temptation. If you're able to stop by eating a bit more, then surely that is better for your baby. Deal with any weight gain after LO is born

Remotew · 22/01/2010 23:45

No hijack barbie, when is the happy event?

Keep me updated. xx

NeedCoffee · 22/01/2010 23:46

I meant whether bf will be affected by champix, I don't think it can be used when pg.

Remotew · 22/01/2010 23:47

Articfox, bam your dead! lol

madamefreckle · 22/01/2010 23:54

Scardycatsmoker - I smoked (10-20 roll-ups a day) until 3 months into my first pregnancy (4 years ago). You well know, as I did, that smoking during pregnancy is NOT good and may harm your baby which is why you want to stop. There are so many good reasons but it is hard. I hoped that when i fell pregnant i wouldn't be able to stand smoking but it didn't happen.

Picture yourself in 10 years time... are you a smoker, with a constant phlegm problem, greying skin and developing unattractive lines around your eyes and mouth? If the answer is no, that's not what you want to see, then why wait... just stop now and that won't have to be you. The longer you leave it the harder it will be, not to mention your gorgeous, perfect new baby who has no choice. There's no point in doing it next week, or next month. Do it straight away and you will be so proud that you did and will feel and see the benefits too.

I told myself that I WOULD NOT smoke. It didn't matter what it took to do it, I just wouldn't smoke. And I just took it one day at a time. I Screamed, I cried (floods of tears quite frequently), I ate quite a lot of chocolate, I went out for brisk walks with chewing gum or a chuppa chum clamped in my mouth. Whatever it took to get through each day. Then the next morning, I'd feel so good physically and mentally about it that it gave me renewed energy to try again for another day. It was immensely worth it! I have not smoked a single one since (I wouldn't dare!) and I only miss it very occasionally when really pissed off with something.

You can do it! I was 8 stone before I got pregnant and put on 3 stone during that pregnancy but lost it all afterwards with very little effort despite not dieting at all. I used to quite often have a cigarette instead of eating and since having the baby, I obviously don't do that anymore and eat perfectly normally but haven't gained more weight - you're just pretty busy with a baby!

One last thing (sorry, a bit of an essay) just look around you the next time you're in town (not smoking) - Look carefully at people smoking. Do they look beautiful? Do they look really happy? Do they even look like they are really enjoying it? I can guarantee that in most cases they look bored, fed up, slightly dirty and definitely their lives do not appear to be even remotely improved by smoking. This gives such a clear message that it is just not worth it at all. The financial cost is not worth it, the cost to your health and your child is not worth it, the cost to your looks is not worth it.

It would obviously help hugely if your bf stopped too, but if he just won't do it, then at least try to get him to never do it when at home and to ensure he gets the smell off him as that will affect you.

Finally, do both read the Allen Carr - Easy way to stop smoking book.

Good luck! I'm sure you will succeed.

BarbieLovesKen · 22/01/2010 23:55

Thanks NeedCoffee - ooh have heard lots of positive things about champix - may need to try after birth to be honest as will no longer have the baby inside me to stop me, ifykwim (I know thats stupid - my own health etc.. but oooh I love them, so can really understand why op is finding it so hard, is very easy for a non smoker to judge)

Eve - due tomorrow!!! pllllease everyone cross fingers. Have enough now. Doubt it though. Will definately keep you updated - keep an eye on birth announcements, thanks again

BarbieLovesKen · 22/01/2010 23:56

actually in 4 mins am due today..

almay292 · 22/01/2010 23:57

Is your BF very young - or just immature? Do you have anybody (another bloke?) who could talk/hammer some sense into him?

How's your chap going to react if you bulk up in the final few weeks as many women do - even smokers? Do you think he'll be supportive if you breastfeed?

tethersend · 23/01/2010 00:02

People- pregnant or otherwise- don't continue to smoke because they don't know the risks; they do it because they are addicted. It's that simple.

FWIW OP, I stopped smoking whilst pg by using one of those comically tampon-esque nicotine inhalators. I hear the electric cigarettes are also good.

Not sure how you can give up the BF who criticises your weight at 6mths pg, though

catbus · 23/01/2010 00:04

madamefreckle; you have made the most sense on reading this thread so far! Aswell from a perspective of someone who gave up during pregnancy..I myself struggle with giving up when pregnant, for many reasons. It is nice to hear a bit of positivity, which am sure OP will appreciate; words like 'you can do it' really do help!! Good luck OP; it'll be hard but worth it. My problem is the bloody rotten mood swings from withdrawal, making my kids think I am truely insane and evil..Still, onwards and upwards!

BarbieLovesKen · 23/01/2010 00:06

Actually almay and tethersend make a really good point that I completely missed really - find shitty boyfriend who comments on pregnant girlfriends weight to be quite a serious concern to be honest.

Has he been treating you well during this pregnancy otherwise OP?

Remotew · 23/01/2010 00:08

Barbie, fingers crossed and everything else .

Maadamfreckle, I would love to say that my smoking has had a detrimental effect to my looks but I am nearly 50 and people cannot believe that I look so young. So!!!!!

madamefreckle · 23/01/2010 00:14

BarbieLovesKen - Very Good luck with the arrival! I too never wanted to give up and really absolutely loved smoking but I can say now I will never smoke again. I do not want to die prematurely as my baby boy needs his mummy! I might love cigarettes, but I love my son more.

Children who grow up with smoker parents are more likely to smoke themselves and I really don't want my little boy to inhale all of those revolting chemicals into his body, ever! Try not to fall off the waggon once you've had your baby. You've had a totally crappy time of it by the sounds of things but if you stop completely, you'll look back in a year/2 years/10 years and you will be unbelievably pleased that you did it. You will have achieved two incredible things in one year: Having a baby and stopping smoking. If you do nothing else the whole year, you will have done something totally amazing.

madamefreckle · 23/01/2010 00:19

abouteve - you are one of a very few lucky ones then. It's not usually a good idea to condone something that might well cause premature death though.

BarbieLovesKen · 23/01/2010 05:30

My dh's adorable little nephew (4 months old) has just spent over 2 weeks in hospital with a bad chest infection. Little pet couldnt eat and had a tube up his nose.

The Doctors have said that his mother smoking through her entire pregnancy is a huge contributing factor.

GenerationGap · 23/01/2010 07:11

abouteve - you might have the iq of Einstein and the looks of a supermodel but you stink like an old ashtray

NeedCoffee · 23/01/2010 09:01

Berbie-The first time I used champix it made me quite ill-feeling sick etc, but if you perservere with it, its brilliant.

I wont lie, even now it is so difficult to walk past someone smoking and not jump on them to have a drag! But the benefits all outweigh my selfish cravings.
Sorry to hear about DHs' nephew.
I have to say, my 2 DD have had a lot less colds, coughs and general illnesses and I didn't even smoke in the house. Just think, even if you don't smoke near baby, all the toxins will still be on your skin, breath, clothes and he/she will still breathe them in.
Or think about the money you'd save! More than another to take DCs away for the weekend, or week, or even just you and DH. I booked mysdelf in for some treatments after a few weeks with the money I saved. Hope all goes well for today.

squishy · 23/01/2010 09:02

Scardy - my DH smoked when I became pregnant with my first and quite simply told him he had to stop - I think you need more support, not just from your midwife but him as well - he should be doing everything he can to make this easier for you.

Good luck!