Smoking while pregnant

[biscuit0420]

i am currently 11 wks pregnant and am still smoking. i have seen that i have cut back tremendously and continue to cut back. my docs along with others told me not to cold turkey it and just cut back. i really want to quit but its hard. i have tried so much and nothing works. i even tried cold turkying it but failed. i just feel like the only one that is pregnant that smokes and feel horrible. just would like some advice please and suggestions.

[Bakingbaby2]

I quit cold turkey when u found out I was pregnant with my first baby. It wasnt easy but the guilt of what it could do to my unborn just ate me up. Believe me it wasnt easy,even bein severely asthmatic I just couldn't give up before n I tried champix,patches,gum,lozenges.everything!!!!!thing is just because a baby may be born healthy from a smoking mum does not mean they will not have health problems in the future. My siblings n myself all developed asthma n allergies (something that you can link to my mum smoking while pregnant) n we all went on2 smoke ourselves. I didnt want that for my baby. Smoking was always my crutch when I got stressed n upset n I did have to learn how to deal with this in other ways but if I can give up so can you!i was that bad when I smoked I'd be waiting for steroid shots as couldnt breath with asthma n would be smoking outside the drs office! I'm now 38 weeks with my second n its been 2.5 years since I last smoked. Just keep thinking about your baby n it will get you through

[MomyBoo]

Im pregnant with my 3rd child and i have smoked all throughout my pregnancies yes i cut back alot during but still smoked.. Dont try to quit cold turkey cuz my doctor always said it could cause stress to the baby just cut back and everything will be ok... Good luck!!

[MomyBoo]

Im pregnant with my 3rd child and i have smoked all throughout my pregnancies yes i cut back alot during but still smoked.. Dont try to quit cold turkey cuz my doctor always said it could cause stress to the baby just cut back and everything will be ok... Good luck!!

[klg22]

Hi There,

This is all coming from a good place and with respect. I suggest that you really educate yourself on the facts as this can help you get determined. The brain is your best friend or your worst enemy, i.e. If you decide to quit, you will quit; if you decide it’s too hard then it will be. You can overcome pain and addiction. You just have to make the decision. It’s that simple and that hard.

Here are some facts on smoking in pregnancy, for motivation :-)
  
Pregnancy complications from smoking:
- Ectopic pregnancy – this is pregnancy outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube
- Foetal death – death of the baby in the uterus (stillbirth)
- Spontaneous abortion – known as miscarriage
- Problems with the placenta, including early detachment from the uterine wall and blocking the cervical opening (placenta previa)
- Premature rupture of the membranes
- Premature labour

Effects of smoking during pregnancy on the foetus:
(Every time a pregnant woman smokes a cigarette, her unborn baby is deprived of oxygen and exposed to a cocktail of chemicals, including chemicals that cause cancer)
- Reduced oxygen supply due to carbon monoxide and nicotine
- Retarded growth and development
- Increased risk of cleft lip and cleft palate
- Decreased foetal movements in the womb for at least an hour after smoking one cigarette
- Impaired development and working of the placenta
- Changes in the baby’s brain and lungs

Problems at birth from smoking during pregnancy:
- Increased risk of premature birth
- Increased risk of miscarriage and infant death
- Lower birth weight – on average, about 200 g (grams) less than normal
- Up to three times the risk of SUDI, which includes SIDS
Smoking during pregnancy can cause problems for the child in later life:
- Decreased lung function
- Higher risk of asthma
- Low birth weight, which is linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in adulthood
- Increased risk of being overweight and obese in childhood

I wish you all the best. I believe you can do it and the health of your baby (and you) will only benefit.

[rybug2012]

I am a smoker I have cut way back but myself to wud go bat $hit crazy just cut back quit when u are ready and it don't stress u out much good luck to u hope u don't have much trouble quitting

[AngelaAdams]

I forgot to mention that those Electronic-Ciggs really help me a lot! I cut back from about 4 ciggs a day to 1 maybe 2. If that. It has nicotine in it to help with the cravings but doesn't have all the other poisonous toxins. Good luck!

[mommySherika]

Iam 12wks5ds and um still currently smoking despite the fact that it makes me sick like the smell of the smoke the taste n everything but i still want it i dnt understand this but i would tell you quit at your own timing

[masquared]

I quit cold turkey after 10 years of smoking when I find out I was pregnant with my first 5 years ago. At 12ish weeks they said the placenta was a little over mature, probably from the smoking in the weeks that I didn't know I was pregnant (found out around week  7) so it was a good thing I quit right away or it might have been worse. She was almost born 7 weeks early but they were able to stop it until 36 weeks, still early but better.
My second, pregnancy I hadn't smoked since before my first and it was a very healthy pregnancy, she came late in fact
I was very fortunate however that my morning sickness made cigarettes the devil, not everyone is that fortunate. Keep at it. For me cold turkey was what I needed, I had tried to quit gradually but the temptation was too much. At this point, since you have cut back so much, cold turkey may be doable and I imagine safe.
You gotta do what feels right though.
Good luck

[seh4531]

I smoked 1-2 packs a day before getting pregnant. In my first trimester I cut down to half a pack. In my second trimester I cut down to 6-7  a day. I've been pretty much maintaining at 5-6 a day until now. 37 weeks. I tried quitting cold turkey multiple times. Cutting out one at a time was the only way for me. I'm hoping to continue to smoke less and quit completely eventually. Good luck!

[Phan1591]

What helped me quit is the thought of my baby's health, I didn't want to risk it at point... I imagined how much it would be harmful to my baby every time I looked at a cigarette and pulled me through I thought I couldn't at first  but then at 8 weeks I had my last cig and stopped from there and I've been smoking since I was 16 and now 22, I'm 32w+5d and I feel much healthier ... The only person that is stopping you from quitting is yourself ... Just think ofit as a temporary quit till you kid gets here after that at least you would be relived too know that that baby is not talking in what you are

[biscuit0420]

I appreciate everyones feedback. It had really helped me and eased my mind. I take a lot to heart to think about and live by. Again my deepest appreciation. Be blessed.

[kingzmommie]

It all on you...Me myself I found out I was pregnant and stopped immediately.  I just thought of it like I was smoking a cig and blowing into my toddler and/or infants face continuously. Like I said its all on you no judgment passed here..

[JAMILAHNOOR]

My Mom didn't quit till after she found out she was pregnant with each of her pregnancies and each were healthy, although I get sick easier than my sisters as she wasnt aware of the risks her first time round and it took her longer (I'm the oldest). Risks are risks, they dont garuntee there will be a problem, but there are cases where it causes serious issues. Every pregnancy is different.

Just follow doctors orders and cut back more and more until you quit. Stressing over quiting can be just as harmful to baby as continueing to smoke.  Keep your doctor updated and don't let nay sayers get to you. You can only do what is within your own power.

[TimTamDownUnder]

I smoked with my first 2 pregnancies the whole way through. I always did it where strangers couldnt see me and tell me off. I knew it was "wrong" and frowned upon but I did it anyway. I finally stopped about 2 years ago but had to get medication to do it. My point is that it will cause more harm quitting cold turkey than if you keep smoking a few a day. My kids were a little on the small side but the doctors couldnt prove that it was because of smoking.  Other than that,  they are perfectly healthy and now 3 and 8 years old.

[stella_belle]

I quit cold turkey at 17 weeks. No harm done. It was so so difficult. I'm almost 26 weeks now and still have cravings. Sounds like your well on your way to quitting by cutting back. Good luck to you!

[temenuga]

Hi,
If u r that worried and stressing about it just trry harsee to quit..it is not that hard trust me. I have been smoking since i was 15 whith 2 packs of cigarettes a day and i found out im pregnant (trust me that was not the time i wanted to quit) i started to reduce  a lil by lil and for 2 weeks i stopped. I gaimed morw wieght of course for a month i wanted to eat whatever i see ...howevwe what im trying to say is that firat 3 days its harder but afterwards it gets easier and easier and easier im in 5th month now and its like o have forgottwn i havw smoked all of my life:) good luck it just looks harder than ot is:)

[AngelaAdams]

I'm 35 weeks and have smoked thru my whole pregnancy as well. I tried but always failed too. My doctor said to not quit either. And both my pregnancy and baby are right on track perfectly healthy. She's even a little bigger then average! I know a ton of mommies who smoked their whole pregnancies as well & all had healthy full term babies. Don't let others who judge get to u. No matter WHAT u do, there will ALWAYS be haters! True story. My doctor even said the amount of exhaust coming out the back of vehicles, breathing that in is equivalent to smoking a couple cigarettes. He's not worried about it? I'm not either. I was in the beginning, but he reassured me everything's fine. Don't stress out too much! If you quit cold turkey, can result in a miscarriage or even premature labor! You'll be fine. :)

[spaz2013]

Im 36+1 weeks n still smoke. Ive cut back from a pack n half two packs a day to about 5-6 cogarettes a day. I have my days where im really stressed n oke more. But so far everything is just fine. Dont stress over it or what others say. Just like eva530 if i didnt smoke id be bat **** crazy too. The few cogarettes i have keep me sane.

[AprilDawn87]

I smoked throughout my first pregnancy and have been with this one as well. I had a very healthy pregnancy and baby. This pregnancy is just fine too. Don't stress about what others think. No one is perfect, though some like to pretend to be. My doctor isn't concerned bc I'm right on target. Good luck!

[eva530]

Sweetheart I am 13 wks and I still smoke, yes Im not a chimney smoker anymore, but in all honesty if I didnt smoke i may go bat $hit crazy, and I'm sick and tired of people who dont know me or my life telling me I need to quit, this is my body and my baby!! My advice to you keep doing what you're doing, maybe one day you'll wake up and not want one...

[MrsFrederick11]

Hey lady. I quit smoking two months before trying to get preggers. I quit using the electronic cigarettes. I got the lowest dose of nicotine... And eventually went to a.flavor without nicotine... Just keep with it and remember you have a baby that wants a healthy Momma.  I know how hard it is... It was the hardest thing I have everrr done in my life. Just keep yourself distracted.