Pregnant And Trying To Quit Smoking...Why Can't I Use The Patch??

Question

I found out that I'm pregnant last week and am really trying to quit smoking. I've gone from 25-35 smokes a day to only 2 or 3. I would really like to use the patch as I know from experience I'd be able to quit completely. (I quit for 2 years before using the patch..unfortunately I went back to smoking). Why would my doctor have a problem with me using the patch? Anyone know the answer??

When I went to the doctor and asked him about using the patch he simply said not a good idea."Quit cold turkey" he said. (He has never been a smoker) I can't see how the patch could be more harmful then me smoking 2 or 3 cigarettes a day.

Answer 1

If you're down to only 2-3 smokes per day already, then wearing the patch will actually give you a LARGER dose of nicotine than that. Also, that larger dose will be constantly entering your bloodstream, not just intermittently when you smoke those 2 to 3 cigarettes. You're doing fine now. Just stop those few when you can.

Answer 2

My doctor was not against the patch when I first became pregnant. His attitude was that having the patch was better than smoking because I was removing everything but the nicotine from my system... The patch is only temporary. The only thing I can suggest that could be the reason your doctor doesn't want you to use the patch is because the nicotine will be delivered in a continuous stream instead of in short intervals. If you're down to 2 or 3 cigarettes a day, though, it might not be all that difficult to quit cold turkey. It only takes about a week for the nicotine to be completely out of your system, and if you can develop some healthy habits while your pregnant to make up for the cigarette you would normally have, you should be able to beat it. Use your baby as motivation, after all, that's why you're trying to quit now anyway.

Answer 3

The biggest health risk in smoking is in heart problems, not lung problems. With the patch you are avoiding tars, which cause the lung problems, but you still are pumping that nicotine into your blood and the baby's.
I did it cold turkey. I found a 4 day weekend from work, locked myself in my room (almost) and gave my car keys to a pal so I could not get to the store to buy a pack.
I realized I would probably gaining weight, which I did.
I realized that I might have nasal and mucus problems for a while afterwards, which happened.
I drank lots of water and spoke to no one because I was getting nasty moods.
By the time the 4 days were over, the physical addiction was over.
I then had the mental thing to deal with, especially after meals, etc.
When I felt like a cigarette, THIS WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME, I would use the trick that my teacher said AA used. I told myself 'I will have a cigarette one hour from now, but not right now'. I made myself ABSOLUTELY believe that. Each time I had the urge I PROMISED myself if I would just wait an hour I would have one. Day by day and week by weel I found that the cravings were spaced further and further apart. Eventually you reach the point where a whole day will pass when you don't have to say this to yourself. This is dangerous. The minute you become confident or people congratulate you, you are vulnerable because you will make the mistake of thinking you licked it. You have to tell yourself you will never lick it. The times of craving will just get further and further apart.

If you ever break down and 'just have one' believe me, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF HAVING THE SAME NUMBER OF CIGARETTES DAILY AS THOUGH YOU HAD NEVER QUIT. NEVER, NEVER, HAVE JUST ONE.

There is something I heard that makes sense. The idea is that your body has a 'set point' for the quantity of nicotene it thinks it needs. Whenever, on any drug, you are addicted (this could apply to dieting as well), and stop and have just one, your body will just drag you back to that 'set point'. So you will quickly go back to the old addiction level. This has little to do with your will power, it is some sort of scientific thing. The trick is to never think you have it licked and you never will allow yourself to have just one.

Now, the reason why most people feel that they are such failures quitting the patch or trying to taper off is because the body is constantly trying to bring them back to the 'set point'. They think they lack will power. It is not that. Cold turkey is actually easier.

I have hardly any will power and I just rigged it and bull-sh@tted myself about it and told people to never congratulate me and
have not had a cigarette for many years, after smoking a pack and a half for about 25.

I know it sounds stupid, but all you have to say is NO, and just keep saying it. Keep away from places where people smoke, too.

Good luck.

Answer 4

He's not saying, "The patch is more harmful that 2 or 3 cigarettes a day." He's saying, "Neither is good for a pregnant woman. If you want to have the healthiest baby you can have, quit now."

I also suspect that the nicotine in a patch is a higher dose than is present in the small number of cigs you're smoking.

Answer 5

Both the nicotene and the smoke itself harms your baby. It took me a long time to quit smoking when I found out I was pregnant, almost an extra month, but I found out early. My doctor strongly advised me against quitting cold turkey. This can put your body into serious withdrawls, which can harm your baby even more. Quit slowly, and take the time to do it right. It's better to smoke once a day, than to relapse and smoke to kill the craving, it wil take a lot of ciggarettes to do that.

My doctor told me to use this method. When you smoke, don't inhale into your lungs. Just hold the smoke in your mouth, and then exhale. This kills the hand to mouth craving, lets the nicotene absorb into your mouth, but keeps the baby somewhat safe from the smoke, as it's not in your lungs. Do that a few times a day, and then gradually cut it off.

It's so hard, but just remember, you can smoke again later.

Answer 6

I would definately seek out some other advice.

I talked with my doctors about the patch and their attitude was this- the patch is soooooooo much better than actual smoke. No carcinogens going to you or the baby.

I believe that you can do it cold turkey (I did only because I really honestly could not afford the patches), but if you need the patch or gum, knock yourself out.

Yes, it does cross the placenta, but it is still better than actually smoking.....

Answer 7

it can be harmful to the baby. im trying to get pregnant and i smoke. but i cant use the patch, i started using the gum. but i read all about the gum and the patch, and they both can be as harmful to the baby if you kepp smoking.

Answer 8

Chemicals leech through to your baby. Come on, girl, just QUIT. This is NOT the time for you to be selfish - cutting down is no answer! It takes time for your body to detox, and by still having the smokes, it is all still harboured in your system. Just STOP.

Answer 9

Honey, You HAVE to quit smoking! For you babies' sake, please put them damn things down! You want your baby to have healthy lungs, ten toes and ten fingers, right? How bad would you feel if your baby comes out and coughs instead of laughing or crying?

What if your baby is born with some dehabilitating disease because you couldn't make it through the day without poisoning yourself?

When it was just you, you are free to kill yourself however you see fit. But, now you have a child growing inside your body.

Imagine this.....let's say you walked up to a one year old girl and stuck a cigarette in her mouth and make her smoke it? What would happen? She would cough. She would probably cry. That's what you are doing to your unborn child.

Please, please, please, for the sake of your baby, leave them cigarettes alone! Your baby is counting on you.....

Answer 10

the path puts the nicotine into your system, and into your babys system.....When you are pregnant almost everything affects your baby-even some lotions you use absorb into your skin and go into the babys system