Smoking...

None.....Smoking is an awful thing to do, and even worse when you are pregnant. Please don't make your unborn child pay for your addiction.

I too was a heavy smoker when I found out. I went to a hypnotist as they say gum and patches are not a safe way. Quite honestly, it has been extemely hard! For people to suggest that it's just a matter of thinking of your baby and that's all it takes obviously have never smoked or simply have better willpower. All I can say is try. It is really, really hard but, be realistic. Don't think about not ever smoking again, just concentrate on not having the next one. That seems to help me. Good luck to you!

I agree jfpark and thank you for being so candid! People tend to sound very self righteous when they're so critical of others and I don't think in the end it helps anybody.
For those who have stronger "will power", you should consider yourselves lucky, not better than someone who doesn't.

As for quitting, my doctor suggested hypnosis as well but i'm leary of that idea... Her other suggestion was the patch as she said that is still better than smoking and i've heard wellbutrin can be okay sometimes too to help you, but of course, seek your own doctors input on any option before pursuing it.

I'm not quite sure how to start this.
For one thing, I think it's sad that so many people get backed into a corner on this one.
I was in the same place when I got pregnant. And I ended up smoking through the whole pregnancy, unfortunately. I felt, and still feel that it's impossible to ask for support, the minute you do people are looking down their nose at you for doing it in the first place. I never felt that I could even reach out for help because there would always be someone judging me right away, the more people looked down on me the harder it was for me to give it up, because I felt anxious all the time.
Imagine going into your doctor with, say, an infection. You expect the doctor to treat you, but instead the doctor says "what the hell is wrong with you, getting an infection. Just stop being infected!" and sends you on your merry way. I have never understood how people rationalize making people feel small as a means of overcoming an addiction, especially an addiction that is soothing. If you use something for years as a way of calming yourself, people making you feel bad is only going to result in a need to calm yourself.
Addiction is a powerful thing. It's not a logical thing, and loving someone enough doesn't make it easier to overcome. I love my son more than anything in the world, but that doesn't help so much when every part of me is screaming for a cigarette.
I really wish that society in general would stop treating smokers like modern-day lepers and instead try supporting and helping others to give up the habit, because contrary to what people think, the majority of us don't want to do it. Personally I wish i'd never started, but I did so now I have to find a way to break free from it, easier said than done.
I think the best advice is don't overwhelm yourself, setting the bar too high. Think about how to not smoke that next cigarette, not how you're going to make it through the day or week or month. Wait 10 minutes before you smoke, often the craving will have disappeared by then. Don't kick yourself if you cave in and have one, and don't let one cigarette blow your effort. Keep trying even if you do give in once or twice. One cigarette a day is far more healthy than 20, even if it's not ideal.
And try to find people to support you in it.
I checked on this topic because I want to have another baby, and I want to do it right this time. I know I need to quit, but never find supportive words, only judging.
And for the record, my son was born totally healthy and to this day has no medical problems. I'm thankful that he dodged the bullet, and I don't say that as a cop-out, there are definitely high risks with smoking. But you also can't tell anyone that they are definitely doing major harm, because you don't know that.

My Dr., although I live in europe where opinions do differ, said it is better to smoke 5 cig's a day or so to take anxiety out because if you tense yourself up constantly fighting the urge, you will be constricting your blood anyway with the stress of it all
correct? Who knows.
Somewhat logical though..

For my second child I quit then went back after they stopped making me throw up at the mere smell of them my doc said it was fine as long as I kept it to no more than 7 per day but of course he was a fellow smoker himself and new how hard it is to quit. So I say what does your body tell you I too got do you know what your doing to your baby well let me tell you my son was a healthy baby at 8lbs 5oz so if he was under weight like they tell you can happen if you smoke then i'm glad I smoked

You should not smoke or drink while being pregnant that's just common sense. Would you let your newborn have a cigeratte or a glass of alcohol? Because that's pretty much the same thing except babys getting it from you.

I just found out that i'm pregnant 5 weeks now. Im also a smoker and yes it is hard to go from 15 cigarettes to nothing in one shot. We all know that it is bad not only for ourselves but also for our unborn babies. Its also hard when your spouse smokes and you see the cigarettes around on the table. I used to buy my cigarettes and now I don't. I think that makes it alittle easier knowing that there isn't any in the house that could temped me. I am also a stay at home mom of 2 girls and they keep me busy that I don't think about it much. Listen weather its alcohol or in this case cigarettes an addicton is a powerful thing to overcome. I guess it does depend on how addicted you are and how long you were smoking to really overcome it. Day by day just relax and tell yourself that there is another living thing inside of you and it can get better. If you you end up reducing until you are cigarette free its a chance you will have to take. But I do reccomend that starting off a pregnancy on the right foot is better for you once you start labor and better for your child. You can ultimately have breathing problems in labor. I'm very happy knowing that some of these moms had healthy kids even while smoking and dodged the bullet, but everyone is different and every pregnancy is different. There is no way of knowing for sure what that cigarette is doing to your baby. Just be calm and take it day by day and if you need more help there are ways.

3kizz

who are you telling not to smoke? I don't smoke i'd have one once in a great while like when my sister has new years eve parties or while i'm at other social gatherings but I never actually smoked on a daily basis. I'd never smoke while being pregnant, or drink any alcohol for that matter either. I just turned 21 but have tried alcohol before that and I think it tasted disguisting. I'm so picky that I try to avoid all cigeratte smoke because I don't want to get their second hand smoke and then my baby get it also.

~nikki~
just turned 21,
married about 10 months
4 1/2 months pregnant :)

Good for you and your habits I was just simply answering the original poster.

Sherine
i asked about this same problem on another forum and got told off like a 5 year old child, no one could give me any advice at all. I am 10wks and haven't had a ciggie for two days and this is hard. Hopefully this time I can do it for good. But for starters I was a heavy smoker and everyone is telling "give up" "think of the baby" etc etc. Obviously these people had never smoked! I found that quiting cold turkey was to hard for me and I was putting to much stress on me and the baby. So I cut down, I started by going an extra hour in the mornings without a ciggie then two hours then three and then having one every hour after that then every 2 hours etc for weeks. I managed to get it down to about 5 a day and it made these last 2 days alot easier than they would have been other wise. (its not as bad as it seems at first)
but if you really can't give up completely don't stress too much (stress isn't good for either you or baby at the moment) just cut down to the bare minimum (1,2,3 or 4 a day) anything is better than a pack (or whatever you were up to) a day. And you never know one day you might just find that you don't need those extra ciggies.
Good luck.

Hi im alexis I have the same problem so I really need some advise aswell thanks ladys :wink:

Hi ladies, I was too a heavy smoker at least a pack a day if that is considered heavy.

I am 8 weeks pregnant and when I found out yes I can say it was hard to go from 20 to 0 cigarettes a day. I felt almost guilty to even put a cigarette to my mouth and smoke it knowing that I could potentially hurt this living creature in my belly.
I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't steal a ciggie from my husband when he wasn't looking, b/c I did and it was really only one.
Now at 8 weeks pregnant I can say that my subconcious is talking to me on a daily basis and it's saying don't risk it. I don't smoke at all and you know I don't really miss it.

All I can say is that everyone has their own mind and really its all how strong you are within and how important it is to you to bring a healthy, full term baby into this world.

Ladies I am right there with you...I am 4 1/2 weeks preggo and trying soo hard not to smoke! My husband smokes so it really makes it hard...My lil sister is preggo and before I got pregnant I would always tell her..I cant believ you are smoking! Your poor baby! Now I am eating my words! It is so hard! I know I have to stop! I have cut down alot and I dont buy them either..It is so much eaiser when I dont have them! But husband smokes and it is so hard when he is here..I just wish he would stop with me! It is good to see that others are having a hard time too! Good luck to everyone!

If you are thinking about getting pregnant and want to quit first, go to http://www.Finalsmoke.Com - this company has a 100% money back guarantee. I know there is a lot of crap on the internet that promises everything under the sun, but I smoked from age 16 - almost 31. I smoked through my first 2 pregnancies (thank god they were both healthy and still are today) and wanted to quit before my 3rd baby. I was not a huge heavy smoker - 5-10 a day, 20-40 if I talked on the phone or went out drinking for a night.

Anyway, I promise you that it will work. They have testimonials and it's easy to believe it's fake because it really does sound too good to be true, but I didn't even finish taking all the pills and I haven't touched a cigarette since may 16, 2005. Yes, I still get cravings for the feeling and I still look longingly at people I see smoking and feel a bit jealous. But, i'm now 9 1/2 weeks pregnant and there is no way i'm going to backslide and undo all the work I did to reach this smoke free milestone!

The website says you cannot take it if you're pregnant. If you are already pregnant, there is nothing I can say other than consider switching to lights (if you aren't already) and cut back as much as possible. If your morning sickness makes smoking hard, do not go back to it when you feel better (because I know you'll want to!!).

Good luck to all of you. I know how hard it is to be addicted and I know how hard it is to kick it. I urge you to try the final smoke product - I used it after patches, gum and an inhalor cause me to turn into the nastiest snarling b*tch on the planet! I had no mood swings with those pills and was able to resist all urges.

Wow, it amazes me how social smokers/non-smokers can sit there and say "oh you are so horrible blah, blah, blah" smoking is a true addiction and if you have been smoking on a regular basis more than 1 or 2 a day its hard very hard to quit. Im five weeks pregnant and I found out a week ago so far I have cut down from a pack a day to 1- 5 a day. I've found that not buying cigarettes helps alot. Yes, I think about my child every time I smoke and I feel terrible. But I also think to myself going from 20 cigarettes a day to 5 or less is a great step in the right direction and hopefully in a week or two i'll be smoke free. Cold turkey I have been told is not a good idea because of the stress factor. Instead of judging women for smoking why don't you encourage and praise for the great steps forward by cutting down and trying to quit. Please don't judge someone when you have never been in that situation.

I posted the same thing on a different website reg. Pregn. And you know what - they actually are helping to support me with this. I am only 3 weeks preg. And the min. I found out - I went from 20per day to 5-6per day. This week I worked on not smoking at work. Next week its not in the morning.

I'm getting tired of this site and the constant put downs to everone eles. Do people actually think "wow this preg. Women smokes she must not care very much!!" this is an additiction and yes if you have quit or were able to do it cold turkey, good for you but do not force opinions on me, I am not as strong as the women next to me but I am stronger than others.

We are all trying our best to protect our babys.

Thank you
michelle

I'm so glad I came across this forum as I am now 6 weeks pregnant and am a smoker also. I have managed to cut down to 2 cigarettes a day but basically it's because I dont want anyone to see me smoking since everyone knows i'm pregnant, which works out better for me since I don't smoke all day and night, only 2 in the early a.M. When no one is in the office yet. I'm glad to know others are going though the same feelings and it's not only me.