smoking and pregnancy, slowly quit or cold turkey.?

Question

I smoke and I think I may be pregnant. So my question is, is it better for me quit cold turkey (which I don't think that I could seriousy do)? Or would it be safe to quit slowly by weaning myself off or even using the patch or gum? I don't want to continue to smoke, but I don't know what to do. I know that I am not strong enough, no I don't have enough will power to just stop. And I know it would not be fair to the baby if I cheated trying cold turkey. Can anyone give me any advice on what they did or maybe someone they know. Or any good ideas on quitting while still being healthy for the baby.

Answer 1

Quitting slowly never works. You just torment yourself, and make things worse.

Quitting smoking is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves, as you have already observed.
Congratulate yourself on having the desire to stop - then you are over the worst, but still need to maintain your resolve. It's just so easy to start thinking that just one won't hurt, but it does. Just one achieves nothing except feeling the need for another. Whatever you do, don't have just one. Beware - alcohol will weaken your resolve.
Here's a few home-brewed tips that might be useful.
It's not just nicotine addiction - there are 50+ chemicals in cigarettes. Also the main problem is habit.
We have been used to having body sensations which we translate as 'my body needs something', which we have attempted to satisfy by having a cigarette.
When we try to stop smoking, we still get these 'my body needs something' sensations, and we still feel that we want a cigarette. We have to train our body to be more selective. When we feel we need something, we have to work out what it is that we actually need.
A glass of water is an excellent substitute if nothing else comes to mind, as it helps with the clearance of the toxic substances in our body. Another good substitute is a bag of salted peanuts, used in combination with the water.
Another thing to do is to find an activity which occupies the mind or body. Go swimming - nobody wants to smoke while they are swimming. Slowly, as our body adjusts and translates the 'want something' feelings into something other than cigarettes, then the feelings begin to go away. We know its not a cigarette that the body really needs, because as soon as we've had one we still have the feeling, and want another!
We will have a few bouts of feeling or even being short tempered. We must try to bite our lip, and control; ourselves. Recognise the short temper as being the removal of toxins which are trying to find a way out. They went in through the mouth, and they try to get out that way to. We must learn to keep our mouth closed, and force the toxins out the other way.

After we have stopped for a while we will begin to feel that just one wont to any harm.
All that leads to is a desire for just another one. We must guard very strongly against the desire to have just one.

Answer 2

Natural Quit Smoking Magic

Answer 3

I've never smoked but I've known a lot of people that do. My parents both smoked before. When my daddy passed away last year he & my mom were both trying to quit. The day he died I believe my mom said she had one cigarrette & after that, she hasn't had one since. There was also a lady I know where I work in a nursing center & she simply quit cold turkey. I've heard from a lot of people that quitting cold turkey is better because after so many days or whatever, you don't need them, you may want to do the motion but you don't feel that actual craving for them. I'm not really sure but if nothing else I would say you are making the right decision in quitting at all & I wish you the best of luck with that & with the baby.

Answer 4

I was hypnotized by a RN and it helped me wonderfully. I have been smoke free for 7 weeks 5 days and I'm 14 weeks 1 day pregnant. I didn't find out until 4 1/2 weeks. You could try that!

Answer 5

I say cold turkey. I smoked with both of my children and they were small birth weight. It will be hard to quit but not as hard to have a sick child or heaven forbid something wrong. So the advantage is healthy child, healthy mom, more money, and all the other pro's no Stinky hair, car, house, breath. Take the extra money and go buy baby things and mommy things. Have fun and feel good about your choice. Good Luck

Answer 6

I am a smoker and asked the same question when I was pregnant. It is a good idea to quit as soon as possible. But, if you are any further along than your first trimester then you may want to weigh your options. If you quit cold turkey you take the chance of your baby going through withdrawl with you and it is more like shock to them than it is to you. So, I guess that my advice is to quit slowly, but try to quit completly before you get to your second trimester. And you might want to also let your doctor know so that he can give you some tips on quitting. Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 7

My friend who smoked had a baby 3 1/2 months early like 10 years ago which scared me into quitting before I got pregs. (Her daughter has a lot of probs.) If I were you, I'd quit now. If you must, allow yourself one cig a day, lighting and putting it out throughout the day as you need it. I kept something in my mouth all of the time to help, straws, flavored toothpicks, gum, hard candy, anything. Even if you aren't pregs yet, it would probably be better to quit now before you get pregs.

Answer 8

I chewed bubble gum, and cleaned my house a lot!. Gum has always helped me to keep my mouth busy, and my hands working to keep my home spotless. If I saw a mark on the wall, I went to clean it off right away! I went for walks, never thinking of anything but my baby. After eating a meal was hard for me, and I did have a cigarette quite a few times afterwards. I told my doctor that I smoked, and smoked at the most a pack a day. She told me it would not hurt the baby just that little, but I cut way back anyway. If I got a craving for a cigarette, I drank a BIG cup of cold water, and that helped keep my legs from swelling! I still smoke today, but cutting back as I did, I am sure helped my baby. He is healthy and happy, and were best pals. Good Luck with you and your babe, Hun. I hope the things I did will help you, and maybe you can quit totally where I could not. Stay strong!
(The patch didnt work for me, but this was after my son was born)

Answer 9

I had the same problem. I didn't quit. I would cut like half of the cigarette off, then smoke the short. You could try that. But my baby was still 3 weeks premature. Of course, the best thing to do is quite. Or try the patch or gum. I didn't do that b/c I couldn't afford them.

Answer 10

This worked for me-When I found out I was pregnant I felt exactly how you feel now.I didn't think I had the strength to quit either,then I started thinking in terms of the baby.I started thinking about what it may do to the baby and asked myself how I could live with myself if something I did caused health problems in my child.This made me throw away the butts.Yes,it was a guilt thing but it worked for me.

Answer 11

definaltly don't use the patch or gum slowly ween down in a week or two don't smoke after that i'ts not about you anyore its about your baby!