How Long Will Cigarette Withdrawals Last?? I'm going NUTS!!?

Question

Well, I am 6 weeks pregnant today. I found out I was pregnant 2 weeks ago and went from 25 a day to 2 or 3 a day. Then three days ago I completely cut out smoking. This is my third day of no cigaretted and I'M GOING NUTS!!!!!!! I am teetering on the edge and am so close to grabbing a smoke. I DON'T WANT TO but it's so damned hard!!! How much longer will these withdrawals last?? I am not only feeling it physically but emotionally I am a mess. Got into a HUGE screaming match with my hubby today over next to nothing. I'm afraid I'll drive him crazy too! Please help me!! Tell me this isn't going to go on much longer! This stress I'm feeling cannot be good for the baby!! :(

Answer 1

i was under a lot of stress once i found out i was pregnant... (being 19 and not in a great family situation at the time) and had to quit smoking for the baby. It was very hard for me at first, but after about a week without one, the smell kind of makes me sick now. everytime i wanted to stop at the gas station, i would just remember reading "every time you hit a cigarette, you choke your baby" and i couldn't stand the thought of choking my poor innocent baby (although after months of morning sickness and other things it seems or theasable now- JUST KIDDING) You will be okay and congradulations to you on the baby and your will power to do what's best for your baby no matter how inconvioent for yourself. that alone tells me you'll do great with this motherhood thing

Answer 2

This is why some doctors say to not quit cold turkey. And some even say it's best to just cut way back instead of quitting. The stress is not good for you or your baby.

My doctor put me on a nicotine patch to help with the withdrawals/cravings. Unfortunatly the patch drives me nuts and when I'm wearing it I feel like I'm going to scratch that part of my arm off...

I've found that quitting smoking even in pregnancy is very hard. Some people can just up and quit and never look back... But for me it's quite different. It doesn't help though either that my husband smokes and it makes it all the harder for me to quit.

If I don't wear the patch for a day thinking I can do it, the next day I put one on, well aware that the day before was horrible and I was crabby - I get sick.

If you stay away from the cigarettes I applaud you. Give it a day or so more and the cravings and withdrawals should subside. Unless of course you're around smokers often as I am. Not only does the hubby smoke but I'm also a cocktail waitress and am exposed to a great deal of smoke there.

Answer 3

Ahh yes. Quitting smoking is very taxing on the body and the soul. You have to give it time to allow the receptors that respond to nicotine to down-regulate (currently those receptors are "pissed" off because they have nothing satisfying them causing some of the wonderful withdrawal symptoms you experience). On a complete side note, apparently, Johns Hopkins (I believe) is working on a "vaccine" for smokers that would attack these receptors and attach what these receptors THINK is nicotine which completely removes the physical withdrawal as it slowly downregulates these receptors (I wish it were out when I was smoking).

Someone here mentioned a three day hump. For me it was four days. After four days I was feeling SO MUCH BETTER. Nicotine devices such as the gum and the patch were useless on me because my stomach had a terrible adverse reaction to them...I'll spare you the details... I had to go cold turkey (also they don't know what problems may result from using the patch or the gum will have on a baby while pregnant...which is probably why you haven't explored this option).

Four days and you should feel better. Understand what's going on in your body and why it's going on is helpful because you can tell yourelf that this is a slow process that will help. Understand that you will still have moments of intense urges for several weeks afterwards BUT these are only short moments and will get better as time goes on (and is certainly MUCH BETTER then the urges you're experiencing all day currently (I'm sure)).

Trying to lay down and rest often when these urges atack intensifies the urges so try to keep yourself busy. Look at pictures of lungs (from people who died of smoking-related ailments), hang them up around the house if you need to, look on the internet about benefits of quitting (www.quitsmokingsupport.com/benefits has alot of little very good facts about quitting but there are many more sites ou can look at as well!). Do other things like a hobby or go somewhere that is active (stuff like going to the mall or grocery shopping), take a walk (physical activities increase neurotransmitters that make you feel good).

As far as your husband goes, these things will happen. I'm sure he will understand why (but it would still be good to tell him that it's the withdrawal talking and not you). Plus you're pregnant! Which is awesome! There's so many more benefits that you can get out of this (not only now while being pregnant but when your child grows up and begins to model after his/her parents more...he/she won't see you smoking...)

I wish you the best of luck but I can't reassure you enough that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is phenomenal (not good, great, or awesome but phenomenal!). You can do it.

Answer 4

First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy and for trying to do the best you can for your baby.

Nicotine withdrawals typically last 4-7 days. After that, it is the psychological habit which is a pain in the butt. Call your OB and ask about nicotine gum or lozenges - it is a safer option than smoking and they may say to use it. You could also try hypnosis.

Most doctors (and even insurance companies) draw the line at 5 cigarettes a day during pregnancy as the max without risking low birth weight, prematurity, etc.

The bottom line is you need to talk it over with your doctor and work with him or her to decide which is less harmful and if any of the smoking cessation options is viable for you.

Good luck

Answer 5

I don't know much about that part, but I do know that it can be hard. I was a smoker from habit. I wasn't addicted, I just did it on breaks at work and such (they are oh so perfect times to smoke a cig!). Believe me, it was hard to train myself to not go outside once I found out I was pregnant. After a couple weeks it worked and I was fine. My fiance quit also so that helped, but after a few months I started craving them. My fiance started to smoke every now and then so that didn't help either! It's quite tough right now, but a word of advice. Don't quit expecting to never have a craving again after the initial time. Keep in mind that you may end up wanting one again, and it will be just as hard. Just keep your head up. Alot of people smoke while they are pregnant, but you are exposing your unborn child to it before they are even able to say yes or no. They can't crawl to the other room. Then they might end up smoking early and you will have it in the back of your mind thinking...did I possibly cause this? I think of that and can't stand the thought of my child NEEDING cigs all because I WANTED one. Good luck and keep up the GREAT work!

Answer 6

I commend you on stopping for the sake of your baby. If you continue to smoke you may miscarry. Some doctors recommend that for hard core smoker s to cut down to the lowest tar/nicotine that exist like ultra ultra lights that way you can wean your body which is obviously going through withdrawal. Now you can see how addicting they are and should make you more aware of how much harm that addiction could bring to your unborn baby. Remember the commercial of the baby making the smoking gesture because mom smoked.. Its a hard thing but ask your OBGYN if you can do this and then tamper off completely because you could be doing more harm going dry turkey and stress your baby as well as the stress its causing yourself. Happened to me so I know. I no longer smoke 2 years now.. It was hard too but check this out what helped me was beef jerky. I would go to the liquor store and get those big huge pieces that are dry and hard to tear off and just chew it and chew it. Also sunflower seeds. The mood swings are normal so people around you beware and tell them they'll be supportive of you. Good luck and Congrats! Your going to be a MOMMY!

Answer 7

Your better than I. I smoked when I was Pregnant (congrats by the way)
Now that I'm Going on 8mos with out smoking the only thing i can say is i still want one. Not as often but when the thought gets in my head it's hard to shake it. I did use and thought it helped was the lozenges my doc told me they where better than smoking for the baby but you can do it. Ive been told Withdrawals last for ever.

Answer 8

Five days to get of the physical craving, months to get rid of the mental, a lifetime of occasional flashbacks.

Ask your doctor for a prescription for welbutrin, it will take all cravings away, if you don't smoke, you won't need more than a month supply.

Check the price, you might think it's expensive, but cigarettes cost more, and there is yours and the babys health to think of

Answer 9

Your physical addition is gone. You are dealing with the mental bit right now. Find some way to keep youself occupied and get your mind off it. After a while, you will hate even the smell of cigarettes.

Stay strong sweetie! You are doing what is best for your baby and not poisoning her with all those chemicals and toxins.

Answer 10

the stress isn't good for the baby, no... but smoking is worse. suck on some hard candy, go for a long walk, take a swim (can't smoke when you're swimming), go shopping, ANYTHING to distract yourself. the cravings WILL go away, and you'll forever be glad you did it.