Suggestions on ways to quit smoking during pregnancy

[Mummatotwo!]

Deleted due to privacy reason

[fionas]

Blakesmummy

Firstly, I'm not passing judgement - I smoked throughout my pregnancy but I cut down from five a day to one a day.

Whilst every cigarette is bad for baby, it's obviously not going to be so bad if you can cut down. Better to quit altogether obviously but if you can't do that in one go, then maybe try cutting down instead.

I got REALLY aggro with my GP who started giving me the lecture about smoking. I don't deal well with lectures especially when I'd been honest enough to say that I did smoke. I asked him to show me from all the books on his shelf where it says specifically what damage I was causing my baby from smoking two (at that time) cigarettes per day. He couldn't.

I also told my obstetrician and he didn't give me a lecture - he just said well done for cutting down (which I respond much better to) and was not at all fussed that I was smoking two a day. Since I've gotten to know my obstetrician better, I'm SURE he would have been much more firm if he thought I was putting my baby at risk. He's not a 'couldn't care less' type - he's just quite sensible about everything.

So, I think the more you can cut down the better but if you can get your smoking down to a very low level, then I don't think there will be any serious harm to your baby.

My baby is very healthy. And she was 8lbs 10oz.

I'm not trying to excuse my smoking (or yours) - it would be far better if we could both give up but don't stress yourself about it so much that you just want to reach out for the fags! It's a bit of a vicious circle sometimes.

[DoubleK]

dont be so hard on yourself, im not a smoker myself, but its not easy to give up i know, i have watched a lot of people try, some stick to it, other just cant do it!

i think its great that you've made the move to at least try!! that deserves praise!

your not a lousy mother! i read a thread a little while ago about smoking in pregnancy, and while im not 100% sure of the dangers to the baby, my mum smoked while pregnant with me & while breastfeeding... and i turned out just fine!

i wish you lots of luck in quitting! dont beat yourself up about it, you'll get there eventually!!

[Mummatotwo!]

omg one a day thats brilliant!!! congratulations on that, its a huge effort.

before pregnancy i smoked up to 25 a day, and now i try not to have anymore then 10ish. its a cut, but obviously not to the point of what i want.

I jsut feel so desperate

[kirsty_lee]

darl i smoked right up until 6 months.. had to cut right back and quit.. i've had a few days of weakness from a few stresses im going through.. but i went to the doctor.. babies heart beat was fine...and she's a big bubba! dont' stress darl.. because stressing about quitting smoking only makes you want to smoke more good luck

[Mummatotwo!]

again for privacy

[neekyv]

hey there...
not a smoker myself but both my mother and MIL smoked through their pregnancies with me and DH. We're both fine. I know it was a while ago and opionions have changed, but at the time my mother was told to not give up due to the amount she smoked. If she had gone through withdrawal while pregnant she wouldve done more harm than good.
My advice would be just to try and cut down....

[kirsty_lee]

you know what though blakesmummy... shock tatics rarely work hey! when all those ads came out the really gross ones.. i didnt even flinch.. until i quit for 9 months (like a year ago) then i was like eww thats gross....lol like i said dont stress about it .. your doing well to cut back !!!

[Ozziehoffy]

hun... it's hard. I was the same as you, I completely beat myself up about smoking which actually made it so much harder!! Firstly, good on you for having strength to admit to people here that you smoke... I wasn't strong enough to do that!! I stopped the day before he was born (cos I went into labour overnight) and haven't had one since. He was perfect and healthy and I looked at him and he gave me the strength. I promised him that I would do everything in my power to never smoke again. I didn't promise I wouldn't but rather everything possible not to. I know it's hard not to give yourself a hard time, but try not to. I used to end up crying as I lit a smoke cos I was scared but couldn't stop either. Feel free to email me if you want to talk more... achoffmann at bigpond . com. Oh and having said that... I haven't had one since he was born, but there have been days where I've really wanted it but haven't cos I think how he might think I smell.

[katkins]

When I fell pg with Kat, I knew I'd have to quit smoking. I'd had 3 previous m/c and I am sure the stress and hence increase in smoking is what caused me to m/c. With Kat, I was married and secure and we BOTH so wanted the baby. I decided I would quit. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. First off, I tried so hard to quit, and could not manage it straight out. So I cut right down to 2 a day, and only when stressed would I allow myself a drag or two. Then I changed my habits. I wasn't allowed to smoke inside as Dh didn't smoke and I smoked more at work anyway cause being a nurse, a lot of us did and would go on break together. So I cut out coffee and stopped going outside for breaks. This meant two of my main triggers were gone. M/Sness helped too cause my body soon decided it didn't want me having coffee anyway. If I really really craved a cig, I'd say "Ok, just two drags" then put it out for later on. I kept telling myself that every drag less I had was one more breath my child would be able to take without a wheeze. In this way I was not stressing my body so much and I was still cutting down. By the time I was 20wks preg, I had completely stopped smoking.
Once I had Kat, I went over to a friends place, she was smoking and I wanted one. I had one drag and put it out. I realized I didn't like the taste anymore. I've probably had maybe 1/2 a cig since and that's been one drag at a time when I have been so very stressed. Last yr when I started work and was fighting with DH all the time, I went a bought a pack. I light the first one and put it out after one drag. I didn't like the taste and forcing myself to have it was making me feel sick. I gave the pack away a few days later. I wanted more kids and taking up the habit again would simply mean having to quit again.
My advice is simply this. Do it by degrees. Cut down. Smoke half a cig at a time. Then eventually change habits. Stop drinking coffee or take breaks inside doing some work at the same time or something. Anything to take ur mind off wanting a cig.
You are doing well honey. And u already love that baby, that's for sure. I am incredibly proud of everyone who cuts right down or quits during pgcy.
My older sis cut down to 2-3 per day and my best friend did the same. They both have healthy kids.
Goodluck honey, I know u can do it.

[bellelass]

I had a 20-30/day habit when I found out I was pg. Lord, I can hardly believe it now. I didn't want to be pg, and I didn't want to quit smoking, dh smoked and most of our friends do too so it was really hard for me at first. When I got a positive test result, the first thing I did was light up and suck one down like my life depended on it.

First I cut it in half. Then after a few weeks I'd cut that half in half. So by the time I was 20 or so weeks (which HAD been my own mental cut off date) I was having maybe 3-6 a day. I knew that was less bad for me and the baby, and I thought positively- that is, I encouraged myself for cutting back as much as I had. And kind of used that positivity to help me keep cutting down. I figured if me quitting was slow and steady, but stuck then it was better than going cold turkey several times and destroying my self-confidence every time I couldn't resist.

I guess about a month ago DH was finally mentally ready to quit. I didn't nag at him or anything, I figured it had to be his own decision in order for it to be lasting. He had cut back a little, and I knew he realized that his smoking was impeding me quitting. Like, if I had one, or half of one, he would act like I was being awful and I'd point out he was smoking, too. That was all I said. Anyway, he's been on patches for the past month and I've pretty much quit. I have had the odd one every now and then but I think I'm mostly over it.

My baby is perfect and right on with weight and measurements, as far as they can tell. I figure that several generations of women smoked through their pgs without knowing any better, and that plenty of women still do even though they do know better. And probably most of them had fine babies.

Try to focus on the positives, and don't beat yourself up. You're already being a wonderful mum for trying to quit. Focus on how much progress you've already made, and how much money you've saved, and how much better your skin looks, how much more you can smell, the fact that you don't stink of smoke anymore etc. I tried to think about it in terms of something I was doing for myself; the fact that I was expecting a child was a catalyst, but I thought of quitting as something to help ME feel better. Cause in a lot of ways, for me smoking was an identity thing. Does that make sense?

One thing that's helpful for when you REALLY want one is to do something else, something active. I've been doing a HEAP of baking the past few months, sometimes really late at night. DH likes having apple pies and homemade breads and thinks Im spoiling him, but mostly it was to give myself something else to do when I was jonse-ing.

[Zee]

I didnt find out I was PG with DD till I was 8ish weeks... i was smoking at least 1 pack a day at the time. Luckily for me as soon as I left the GP's office I threw out the smokes and was able to give up for good there and then.

My my DH it was alot harder for him and took him months & months (I wanted him to give up so it didnt tempt me,lol) but finally kicked the habit. Even though we never smoked inside etc or he never smoked if we were outside both together I was so proud of him.

You have already taken the 1st step & have cut down heaps so dont beat yourself up. quite a few of my friends/family have smoked all the way through their pregancy & have had big healthy babies.

I stopped the day before he was born (cos I went into labour overnight) and haven't had one since.

My cousin smoked right up till she had her DS, as soon as he was born she went out for a smoke but the smell made her sick and that was the end of her smoking days.

[satya]

Did you also know that smoking increases your risk of still birth, sorry just had to chuck that one in as a lot of smokers don't seem to know that fact. Not judging, just informing in case you didn't know.

Anyway, I work with a lady who smoked throughout her two pregnancies. She had completely trouble free pregnancies and births and both kids have no issues yet (they are 3 years and 6 months). Her 3 yo boy does now have some issues with putting on weight though (even though early on he was a real podge) so I'm not sure if that's related.

If you want to give up all you can do is do your best. Good luck.

[Mummatotwo!]

Yes i am well aware of that, hence why i am quitting.

[{sarah}]

Just remember as well that it can be just as dangerous for bub to give up "cold turkey". Taking it slowly isn't such a bad thing.... Remember if you are going through nicotine cravings, bub is as well.

Take your time, you are doing so well already.

[s361768]

Hi Satya,

I don't think that it is helpful telling a pregnant woman who does smoke that she COULD have a stillborn child - I think it is quite cruel actually...this just brings about feelings of shame, guilt and helplessness. Smoking is an addiction like any other.

I smoked during my first pregnancy and continued throughout breast feeding, my partner managed to give up after our first bub was born, however he was a "chipper" and found it quite easy to cut it out.

I smoked throughtout my second pregnancy and managed to give it up a week before his birth, I took it back up when he weaned at ten months of age.

with my third pregnancy I gave up when I was 8 months pregnant and took it back up when he was 12 months old after he weaned. My due date was yesterday and I have failed miserably to give up on the numerous quit dates I have set this time round.

I don't tell people that I am a smoker (although they can smell that I am, no doubt) I don't smoke in public because of the shame (if I do I hide). Smoking is an addictive nasty habit - I am ashamed of it and wish that at the age of 13 I had never picked one up - but I did.

Saying this I don't understand why smokers take all the blame for this horrible addiction and the government takes none - smokers are victimized and treated like social lepers, however the government still permits the selling of tobacco, smoking is still marketed to our children in box office movies and tobacco companies have now moved their sights to promoting this habit in developing countries.

It easy for those that are not addicted to cigarettes to lecture, demonize or to pass judgement on what type of person you are - I couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to be addicted to alcohol therefore it is easy for me to say stop drinking or to tell an pregnant woman who is an alcoholic that she is damaging her unborn child and that her baby will more than likely be mentally retarded.

Giving up cigarettes is an absolute struggle for me - I became addicted at an early age - I am not intentionally trying to damage my baby, I did not think at 13 "hey I musn't smoke because I want to have babies in the future and smoking endangers the life of an unborn child"

I hope that I can give this habit up once and for all...preferable while I am still alive to do it. My father was a smoker, gave up in his forties, however had a stroke in his fifties. When I visited him at the hospital before his operation to unblock his corotids, he was in a ward with a lot other smokers or obese older men who had lost limbs or had had their chests cracked open, it was a sad sight, however if you looked directly out the hospital window below there were the doctors, nurses and other hospital workers puffing on there cigarettes - perhaps a non smoker can see how ridiculous that truly is, however it does illustrate how horribly addictive it really is.

[aussienic]

I found i was pg when I was 6 weeks with my first and I was a smoker. I quit that night, however it was a struggle and I took it up again the week before he was born.. I didn't quit again till 4 years later when my 2nd son was on the way

I would go to your GP and ask what other options you have available to you. Maybe cut down on the mg cigarette you have? so drop to 4 then to 1. after a while you may not crave them as often..

I hope you can give it up for both our sakes.

[DANNIIM]

Firstly i would like to say that i am and have never been a smoker so i don't know what you ladies go through day to day, however my DP did give up a month before DS was born and he was a pack a day man as well as a rollie pack a week. He had tried to quit numerous times before and i guess the impending birth of his child was the strength he needed to proceed.
I certainly will not demoralise anyone who does smoke because i don't know what there circumstances are and i applaud Sarh_H & s361768for there comments on this stance.
I would just like to congratulate all of you caring ladies for being so responsible in cutting down the habit to start with and remember the stress will probably do more harm than anything else!