Please post annon.... No judgement please because I know how bad it is... I'm 26 weeks pregnant and have not succeeded in quitting smoking! Most days I've cut down and others I'm as bad as I was before I was pregnant... I guess I'm looking for some reassurance i haven't caused THAT much damage to my baby and some hints that have helped others. I know it's bad but I almost feel like my life is over without smoking... I connect it to everything "fun" I used to do....like I feel like I'll never enjoy another social occasion again!
20 Replies
Go and speak to your GP. I'm not judging, I can not reassure you you haven't done any harm. Maybe you need to change your thinking. How fun would it be looking after a baby with a heart condition?
I also can't reassure you. I was the same, was convinced I couldn't quit and it wasn't really that bad because I couldn't see any damage. Then my son was born still at 37 weeks because I smoked. Trust me burying your child is not fun. Burying your child knowing you are to blame is unbearable.
That was the only reason??
Sometimes there is no reason but Smoking increases the risk.
Noone can reassure you that what youre doing is ok. There is a reason why they say its bad for your unborn baby - it can be terrible. Google your unborn baby & see how it looks, then imagine putting that baby in a bag of smoke for 10 minutes at a time.or ashtray water. That helped me quit. I just couldnt do it to my baby. It was hard. Very fricking hard, but its time to put your baby first. Noone is saying you cant smoke or party after you have her, hopefully youll read about sids & the dangers & not do it around the baby, but there is life after babies. but for 14 more weeks you are growing & nurturing her and with your choices you can set her up with health or problems for her entire life.
Instead of trying to tell yourself its ok, admit its not ok & set your mind to doing this. You can do it. You have to want to do it.
No judgement here, quitting smoking can seem so tricky. I have started (almost finished actually) reading Allen carrs easy way to stop smoking. It is quite an insight on nicotine addiction. I have quit previously and found easy and enjoyable but gave in while in a high stress situation, this time I will have all the resources to do it through stress and have positive ways of dealing with it. I won't lecture you on the negatives of smoking but I will tell you about the positives of stopping. Trust me when I say it is so much better after you escape smoking than while you are, you will have more energy, the good times won't be riddled with waiting for your next smoke, and you will feel healthier, not to mention lowering risks for bubs.
In regards to your bubbas health ask your doctor about it and see if you can find out if there is any damage done.
Hope this helps you and I hope you can quit. Good luck.
I dont smoke. But have given up coffee and oh I rely on my daily coffee... of course smoking is going to be by all means alot harder to give up! I had struggled my first 1week to 2weeks without coffee. All over my mind was coffee!! Now I want one but I can say no even when its right it front of me and the temptation goes. Maybe find a replacement habit.. everytime you want one go for this other something that is maybe not so bad for you and the baby. Even if it is abit naughty. Even have goals of dropping back a day or so like you are. Make the most of the good days. YOU CAN DO IT!! Surround yourself with positive notes and ssyings. I have lost a baby but i will no way judge you. You have asked for help. So please try!! Goodluck. This is a step.
No one can re assure you to say no damage is being caused but it's like everything ... Russian roulette ...my mum smoked through all three , and overdue/on time babies Quick labours perfect babies who were also very easy babies no health issues actually very healthy chubby babies and toddlers who then had six packs and hit milestones early.
It doesn't always spell doom but as you know it can .
I was smoking weed most nights when I found I was 10 weeks, it took my three weeks to give up but now I had the same experience as my mum.
A friend of mine found out she was pregnant at 6 month and what she did to her body in that time was not good, she had him 4 weeks early ( but also had her first 6 weeks early after taking 100 percent care of herself from before pregnncy) the healthiest pregnancy by far was her second, and her doctor advised her not to quit smoking wen she found out just to cut back so her body wouldn't get a shock
Talk to you go if you can young jt find they recommend the same xx
My midwife told me when I fell pregnant with my babies that quitting while pregnant can cause more harm/stress for you both . She firmly belived that the stress factor far out weighed the positive side effects from giving up. my boys were born weighing 6lbs7oz (the middle child was born at 28 weeks due to placenta abruption caused by surgery earlier that day but was still a good weight of 3lbs10oz) and my last child was 7lbs 8Oz (and yes I smoked through all three of them. Although I did manage to cut down to 5 a day)
None of my children have health issues. Not even the little prem baby (they are now ages 14, 12 and 8)
Talk to your gp and pregnancy support workers....nobodies experiences while pregnant are the same....Do whats right for you and your baby in your situation. (best would be to give up before getting pregnant you the stress and withdrawls dont effect you and bubs...but hindsight is a wonderful thing!)
I smoked in all 4 of my pregnancies, Im not proud of it though. I tried very hard to quit and I did manage to cut down but never stopped altogether. I had 4 very healthy and very heavy bubs who all reached their milestones when they were meant to and have gone on to succeed in all they do...Im so proud of them. I finally managed to quit a packet a day habit 18 mths ago....I struggled with it, but I knew that I didn't want to smoke anymore....just take it a day at a time, thats the best you can do....its hard, but it's do-able.....as for your baby, well Ive heard more stories about babies being alright from smoking mothers than not, but please do try and quit...it will be better all around. Trust me, smoking is becoming so much more unacceptable that it won't be a case of missing out on the fun from not smoking, it'll be a case of missing out on the fun because you do!
Some doctors will tell you not to quit but cut down. You being in stressed will cause the baby to stress.
I had my baby girl 12 months ago, I an dependant on marijuana and I just couldn't stop in my pregnancy. I have a healthy beautiful baby who is actually quite advanced. I could never tell anyone the judgements are so so bad they would break me.
I smoked marijuana every day with my 3, they are perfectly healthy,I'm asthmatic, and none of them even suffer
That's something to be proud of......... :-(
I know someone who did acid while she was pregnant and drank and smoked pot and cigarettes. Her child was 'fine'. Hes intellectually delayed but thats certainly got "nothing" to do with those bad habits. So she did the same with her second pregnany, because you know, the first was fine...oh wait, She stopped doing acid in the first 12 weeks...anyway second baby had a hole in his heart, had to have open heart surgery and almost DIED!
Sorry, but if you really really want to give your baby the best start in life you will not have another smoke!
I know how hard it is, but I quit the second I found out I was pregnant. NO EXCUSES!!
This mum is not you. Quitting is different for everyone.
No its not. Its not easier for the ones who succeed. Its equally bloody hard. Harder because they persevered, they didnt cave when they wanted to. What is different is how committed & determined you are to do it. Know you have to & you will. Even if it takes you ten attempts. Make excuses & try to tell yourself it'll be ok & of course you'll break when it gets hard.
Unfortunately no one can honestly reassure you that your baby will be ok. Plenty of mothers will defend your right to smoke by saying 'I smoked thru all my pregnancies and my babies were fine!' I personally don't always believe them. I think its sometimes denial to avoid the guilt and if it is true I just think they are the lucky ones! My mother in law always says it! However one of her babies was born with a cleft pallet (she was also a heavy drinker) and the other had shocking asthma and other health problems. You know the dangers of smoking while pregnant and I commend you for your eefforts however as you know if is not safe. So , have you seen a GP about help quitting, I've also heard great things about hypnosis.
As for seeing smoking connected to anything fun in your life, I think you need to try and change that way of thinking because smoking isnt whats giving you fun in life! Your friends and family and your children and your health and happiness is whats fun!
The most damage is done in the first week (before most women know) but the less you smoke the better. An ultrasound photo on your smokes might help you cut down and be 100% honest with your doctor he/she will need to monitor bub a bit more and even have a special doctor at the birth (please go to the hospital - not a home birth).