How Long Do Cigarette Withdrawals Last?? I'm LOSING IT!!!?

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 quit smoking every time I was pregnant without ANY problems but always took if up again a few months after giving birth. I had to ask myself---WHY was it so easy for me to quit when I was pregnant? It was because in my mind, there was NO way I was going to do anything that could possibly hurt this little baby that I loved so completely and deeply..... Smoking, in my mind simply wasn't even an option. There was no choice---so I didn't even entertain my cravings. I was forced to deal with it and I did. Once I wasn't pregnant anymore....once I HAD the option of smoking, even when I wanted to stop it was SO much harder. Because deep down I could justify it in some way.... "Oh, it's just one.... I've had a rough day..... I'll quit tomorrow..."
My advice to you would be to get it in your head that you are a MOTHER now. Your child comes first no matter what even when it's hard. And it will be hard. Start practicing self sacrifice now because there is plenty more ahead of you. Tell yourself you do not have a choice, and picture your baby breathing in all of those carcinogens. Besides what we already know about the harmful effects that smoke does to a fetus, who knows what cancer causing material will do to a body that is forming and developing? If your child develops cancer as an adult will you always wonder if you were to blame?

Google "effects of smoking on fetus" and read as much as you can. Once you are completely disgusted and convinced that you would be harming your beloved baby---you'll know as a mother that having even one smoke is not an OPTION and it will be mentally easier to quit.

Don't kid yourself by justifying the "stress isn't good for the baby".... Hands down--smoking is worse. Go take a walk, read a magazine, or get on the computer and research the harmful effects of smoking to your baby. The craving will pass.

Answer 2

I completely know what you are going through. I found out when I was 6 weeks along and was at the time smoking a pack and a half a day. What I did was not smoke any until I absolutley could not take it. I manged about 3 a week for two weeks and then cut myself off from them completely. It took me about two weeks before the cravings started decreasing. I am now 7 months and have been smoke free since that 8th week. It was really hard but I got through it and I have been smoking since I was 10. Iam 19 now and don't plan on picking the habit back up. I started volunteering as much as possible and keeping my hands busy. If your husband is a smoker then I would ask him to quit for you and the baby. That way you guys can be healthy but experience this together. He will understand when you flip out. He should at least. It wont last forever so just keep telling yourself that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And don't feel ashamed or guilty if you pick up one cigarrette. Did you know that only 27 percent of pregnant smokers quit smoking? You are already ahead of 75 percent of the pregnant smokers. Good Job and keep it up. Oh yeah, buy grapes or some type of fruit or veggie. Actually I suggest something you can crunch into and eat aggressively. Everytime you have a craving, grab a handful of carrots and snap into them. Well Good Luck and don't give up. Give it two weeks and you will be feeling better.

Answer 3

It takes 3-5 days for the initial drug withdrawal. So if you can just stick this part out you will feel much better very soon. However, its important to really educate yourself about quitting because a lot of the chemicals in cigarettes have very long half lifes (the amount of time it takes for half the drug to leave your system). Some have a 30 day half-life, some 60, some 90 and some as high as 180 days. That's why people tend to relapse at those specific times. Knowing that you'll start to have a craving at those points and having a plan for dealing with it will really increase your overall success at quitting.

Answer 4

I feel for you. If you weren't pregnant, I'd say get yourself on the patch - it provides GREAT relief. Since you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about how you can get some relief. It's a serious situation. Good luck!

I don't know how long the withdrawal lasts. I was like you - going absolutely crazy. My husband actually went out and bought me smokes. I wasn't expecting of course. I was finally successful quiting after I went on the Nicoderm patch for 6 weeks. That was in 1992. Amazing - you never quite completely lose the cravings, but they are seldom and they only last a few seconds.

Answer 5

Well since everyone is not the same results my very . I am a smoker for 15 years but of those 15 years I have quit about 5 times . I quit cold turkey just laid them down one day and quit, and it never bothered me . The first time I quit was for 2 years , then I found out my husband was cheating so I picked up the habit again. Life goes on , got pregnant with my 3rd child, never smoked with my 1st or 2nd child, so I quit again and didn't start smoking agin until he was 2 . But the thing is if you really want to quit you can and if you don't then it is very hard to quit, and I am smoking today after quitting for the past 2 yrs is I chose to start back smoking , but I chew gum and that helps me not to smoke alot , But like I said we are all not alike and are bodies and minds tell us different things. So really It's your choice whether or not you can quit. Good luck and it is difficult for some to quit I Know my husband quit for almost 2 months it was like living with the devil , he was in a mood all the time, worst days of my life . So one day i bought him a pack of cigs. and told him to be happy , until he was ready to quit I kinda was the one to push him to quit . Sorry about your pain, hope you the best of luck for you and your baby. And the withdrawals are not the same for each person it could last days,weeks or even months, sorry to tell you that but it does.

Answer 6

you know im not encouraging you to light up a smoke, but im not going to sit here like everyone else and say it would be the worst thing you could possibly to do your baby. I have four boys and baby number 5 on the way. My mom smoked with all three of us, and i smoked with 3 of my kids, and you know what. They are all perfect healthy active little boys. When your grandma was pregnant with your mom, yea lol back in those days HAHA people smoked all the time. It was a HUGE deal back then and look everyone turned out fine as far as i can see. What your doing is wonderful. Its awesome that you have the will power to do it. Thats a huge step id be scared to death to take! When i found out i was pregnant (now 20 weeks) i spoke with my dr about what i can take, he said nothing. He told me cutting back is absolutly the best thing to do. Quitting causes more stress on your baby then smoking a smoke. Crazy huh. Hes also been a high risk OB/GYN for 34 years. Im not saying go out and light one up, but if its causing you that much stress, maybe you should go out and puff a few, put it out, smoke it that way all day lol. 2 smokes a day will make you feel like a whole new person.

Answer 7

doctors would say that the actual physical addiction lasts for three days....but as a person who has quit and come back to it months later i can tell you that the mental addiction can last for months each day getting a lil better, but seeing a smoker, or smelling it can trigger string desires for it, even if it has been days since you thought about it...

the truth is, we are all screwed...godbless the cigarette manufacturers

Answer 8

Anywhere from 3 days to a couple weeks. Find something to keep your mind off it, and i know its hard to do so. I found sucking on really sour candy helped alot. Good Luck and congrats on the baby!

Answer 9

HAng in there mommy to be(congradulations by the way) It should only be for like a 5 total days......but you will want to smoke all throughout your pregnancy....even after the withdrawls stop. Be stong for your baby...oh yeah and stress isnt that big of a deal this early in the prenancy....

Answer 10

I got a prescription from the doctor that is doing wonders...I smoked from age 8-67....I really needed that little boost to help me over the hump as it were.......good luck