If you are pregnant and smoking should you really feel guilty?

Question

Over 400,000 women are currently smoking while pregnant as any giving time. You shouldn;t feel guilty abou it because its really your choice, however, if you do then please explain.

some very good answers here,, keep them comming,, remember non-smokers, please do not reply,,,, it doens;t pertain to you.

Answer 1

I don't feel guilty because I smoke less than half a pack a day. I was told by my doc that 10 or less cigarettes a day won't harm the baby. Usually the main problem is most of what's bad for an adult in the smoke gets caught by the placenta and causes calcification, or calcium deposits, to the placenta. Depending on the size of these deposits, the baby loses nurishment. If the deposits are especially large, the baby tends to have a low birth weight and can have other complications. I smoked with both my previous pregnancies, and because it wasn't much, they were both good sized babies. I am smoking with this pregnancy and my ob says everything looks fine according to the ultrasound. So, no guilt here.

Answer 2

yes, you should feel guilty. You don't have the right of poisoning your baby's oxygen...why risk your pg on a habit? Baby can be born with low weight or deformities and I don't think a momma wants that for her child. I think it's very selfish. I've smoked since I was 15 years old but I gave it up when I found out I was pg. It's only 9 months of our lives and it's for the best reason: the health of an unborn child. You can pick up the smoking after the baby is born....

Answer 3

Alot of people smoke and have prefectly healthy babies, and alot of people dont smoke and have unhealthy babies. Its not my place to say who is right and who is wrong. Smoking is an addiction and being pregnant only makes it worse because you cannot take anything to stop!! In fact the only known link ive ever heard of was low birthweight. Now i know in the 1st trimester they say it can cause you to miscarry and things like that. But how do people know smoking was the sole cause of that. Im not sure i believe all of that. Think back in the old days when smoking was very popular. We had healthy babies being born everyday, i think pregnancy is over rated and people stop living because they are so scared of everything. Just go with it, be happy and avoid SOME things not everything. Im not saying smoking is the thing to do, but if you choose to smoke thats your choice and i will not judge you on that. I have two small boys and i stopped as soon as i found out i was pregnant with them both times, im not 9 weeks pregnant and i tried to stop and im down to 3 smokes a day. At least i cut back, quitting is my next step.

Answer 4

I used to smoke before i knew i was pregnant. I quit because the health of my baby was more important. Its the mothers choice yes but your baby doesnt have a choice in the matter. I read somewhere that your baby can caugh in the womb. I think if the health of your baby should be reason enough to quit. Atleast until the baby is born then you can smoke after. But outside of course, second hand smoke is bad too.

Answer 5

It's really hard to quit smoking. I used to smoke a pack a day for many years (sometimes two packs) so I really know how hard it is, but if anything should make you quit, a pregnancy should be a good reason. You have to keep in mind that you're not only harming yourself, but you could potentially harm your baby as well. Why take that risk???

Answer 6

Anything you consume or breathe into your body will be given to your unborn child. Would you offer your newborn baby a cig? No, so why would you give it to your baby while it is in a very important part of development? there can be alot of health issues like asthma, heart problems, or their need to have nicotine when they grow up most babies whos mother smoked while in vitro will smoke as teens. They can be premature or underweight... why do this to your child?
Stop smoking long enough to go through pregnancy and have your baby... then start back if you choose too... I know alot of mommies that quit when they were pregnant and started back, some didn't start back...

but it is your choice...

Answer 7

I am currently 31 weeks pregnant (almost 8 months) with my 3rd child. I smoke. I also smoked during my other pregnancies. Yes, I did feel guilty simply because I know I shouldn't subject my baby to it. Yes, I did try to stop. But, I was unsuccessful. WEAK. And went back to smoking. I have 2 healthy, georgeous children. Smoking is bad during pregnancy. It's bad any time pregnant or not. And I admit it's my lack of willpower keeping me from quitting. However, I do think that the smoking while pregnant thing is blown out of proportion. I have healthy babies, know people who also smoked and they have healthy babies. But, a friend of mine who didn't smoke has a child with severe asthma and a LOT of other problems (poor boy is ALWAYS sick). I feel you should at least try to quit if you're a smoker and are pregnant. But I don't think you should beat yourself up if you can't stop and I don't think others should be critical of pregnant smokers. Usually its people who have never smoked before that are so critical but a few smokers can be too.

Answer 8

You should feel guilty,stop smoking with the baby!If u smoke with a baby inside your stomach you have a risk of hurting the baby.A good mother wouldnt want that.U do have a choice but if u choose to smoke u choose to put the baby at risk and that is mean & selfish.You should also not drink alchohal with a baby inside you.And even if the baby is fine when it comes out,what will it be like when its a little oldeR???

READ THIS!

One of the chemicals in tobacco, Nicotine causes all of your arteries and veins including the umbilical cord to constrict or tighten. Because this constriction makes the area smaller, it reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the unborn baby. This can lead to lack of oxygen getting to the baby. It can also cause a Misscarriage.Ending a pregnancy without a baby to hold in your arms is heartbreaking.

Answer 9

I don't smoke myself, but both my sisters do. They both smoked while pregnant. the younger one smokes 60 a day, and has just given birth to her 2nd child; the first thing she did after giving birth was say, "I need a fag". She smokes around her two very small children. she did not feel guilty, not one bit. she says it's HER body; fine, but she also has to consider the unique position she is in while pregnant; sustaining the life of another human being; and I believe that smoking during pregnancy compromises your baby's future health.

Answer 10

I'm a smoker. I do not have children. However, if I found out I was pregnant by surprise (no method of contraception is 100%), I would immediately quit smoking, and I intend to quit smoking before planning children. I'm not going to attack anyone for their own decision, but a woman really should take into consideration what's best for her body and her child both during pregnancy and after birth. Just because 400,000 women do it, does not mean it's healthy for them or their children. It's not. That is backed by indisputable medical evidence. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Answer 11

I agree that smoking during pregnancy is not good. But I also agree that smoking during pregnancy has been around for so long that if the only thing they can link to it is possible low birth weight, then it's not something for people to be so judgemental about. Remember that other activities sometimes go along with smoking, such as drinking and drug use. If a woman has given up these proven to cause serious birth defects substances, and her only vice during pregnancy is the smoking then that is the extreme lesser of far greater evils.