I have friend that is in her last month of pregnancy and she still is smoking, how can I help her stop???

Question

She knows it's not healthly for her or her baby, and she has tried to stop she went 2 days with out smoking but gave in on the 3rd day.
What can I do to help??
Anyone outthere, pergnant and still somking?? if so why is it so hard to stop??

Answer 1

I have a 6 month old. I smoked all through my pregnancy. I actually smoked menthols through the second half of my pregnancy. So far everything is fine and we have a beautiful healthy baby boy!

Smoking is an addiction. You can show people pictures of smokers lungs, cancer patients, etc and this does not stop them. On my first visit to the doctor for my pregnancy he asked if I smoked. I said yes. He told me the risk and it is best to stop.
He never asked me again. Later he let me know adding stress to a mother carrying a child could in fact put the child in danger. A mother carrying a child should stay away from stress as much as possible. If you are a dedicated smoker trying to quit is very very stressful. It is not an excuse, it is the truth. Those who do not or have not smoked would not understand this. If she has already went through 9 months of her pregnancy smoking no need to try to stop her now. The only person that can make someone stop smoking are themselves! Remember that. You just be there for her when she has this baby and if she needs you through the last month.

Answer 2

I'm sorry to say but it really is not any of you business. If she wants to quit she will. Quiting isn't about anything other then your mind. (I know I smoke.) If she really wanted to quit she would and could stop. She knows that it's bad for the baby and obviously (by making the decision to still smoke) is willing to take full responsibility in her child has issues due to what she did. She will have to deal with the problems--if there are any--not you. It is an issue between her doctor and her, it has nothing to do with you. So I suggest you just leave it alone--it will only make her feel worse and not want to be around you.

I quit smoking during my pregnancy. It was extremely hard. I smoked a few when I got stressed (my husband was deployed and I was very stressed) but like I said it's mind over matter. My son is healthy and happy. I would also like to add--my mother smoked (full flavor) all through her pregnancies with both my sister and I. We don't have asthma or any other complications. Of course when my sister and I were born she didn't know any better because there was no research out there. I actually know quite a few people that had parents smoke all through pregnancy and have NO defects what so ever.

Answer 3

It's so hard for anyone who smokes to quit cause it is addicting. It's an addiction that they need to beat just like a person who is addicted to other drugs.
Really if she haves not quit smoking yet and she is in her last month it's not going to do much good if any good to stop smoking now. I know several people who did not quit smoking while they was pregnant and their babies didn't have any problems nor did they as far as the pregnancy goes. I don't recommend it. Maybe you could just try to help her get past the cravings. Have her chew gum instead of smoking and just be there to help her quit.
She should consult her doctor at this point about it before trying to quit again. Cause right now the baby is addicted to it in a way so it's not going to be so good for the baby if she quits right now.

Answer 4

Just be as supportive as possible. It is really bad to smoke when pregnant but if she knows that and is doing her best that is something. It is so hard to stop because nicotine is very addictive and the smoker will have some serious withdrawal symptoms. It is a drug after all. If she absolutely cannot stop she needs to cut back as much as possible. If she can cut down to less than 10 a day that will help. Then just try to cut back a little more each day.

Answer 5

Why bother now? She is on her last month of pregnancy, she has done the damage to her child already, might as well not do nothing now, cause if she cared less all this time she wont care anymore, but tell her this when that child comes out and has problems, it will be her fault! Poor baby will have a lot of breathing problems may god bless her child!!

Answer 6

Tell her that she is NUTS!

She is already an abusive mother and very selfish!

I applaud you for standing by her, however if she's already in her last month of pregnancy - yes it would be great if she quit, but he damage has already been done to her little one.

The best she can do is join a support group to stop. Once that little one is born, she's hurting it just as much with her second hand smoke.

With all the information we have today, it blows me away that people can't be smart enough to get some help and quit!

Answer 7

Well, you can't force her to do anything. Many of us who are alive and well today had mothers that smoked through pregnancy. While it is not necessarily good, there is no direct cause and effect ill effects other than slightly reduced birth weight.

After the baby is born, she will be tempted, but that is when it is less advisable to do so. Anything you can to do help her in the first months to lower her stress level will help her to quit.

Answer 8

she's gonna do what she wants to, its hard to quit smoking even if you're pregnant i quit at two and a half months and im still dreaming about smoking. its too late though, shes probably gonna have a premie or go early. thats what smoking does. but then again its always random with smoking in pregnancy. something could happen or it may not.

Answer 9

unfortunately the only thing you can do is be supportive when she does try- cigarettes are a very addictive drug and shes not going to quit unless she is really ready. Im sure she does love her child-anyone saying otherwise obviously has no right-but she has to do it herself. tell her if she decides to quit, to call you whenever she gets the urge to smoke and then you can help her through it, or tell her when she gets the urge, to go to the nursery and sit in it, clean or organize something in the nursery-this will help with two tasks, and remind her why she is doing it.

Answer 10

At this point the baby has been smoking for 8 months, the damage has already been done.