Smoking whilst pregnant?

Question

I am 27 weeks pregnant.
I can't stop smoking, i have tried literally everything i can think of, including acupuncture, patches, gum, hypnotherapy, affirmations and even thrown away a packet with 19 cigarettes in them. I would try those tablets but they won't give them to me as i'm pregnant. I've told my midwife about this and she said she would refer me to smoking cessation classes, but she hasnt done anything about it. I used to think i had alot of willpower before this, NOT NOW lol. I smoke about 10-20 a day.
Any suggestions?
**FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO WRITE INSULTING THINGS DON'T BOTHER, I AM ASKING FOR HELP NOT PATRONISING BULLSH!T.

I don't have a partner at the moment, i live with my mother, who smokes about 40 a day, ive asked her to stop with me, but she refuses to stop, and i can't make her at the end of the day. Even if i never bought cigarettes, she always has them on display so i see them all the time.

Answer 1

I think the only way you can truly stop is to mentally force yourself. You can replace it with something else, like whenever you crave a cig suck on a piece of ice, or something to that effect.

Good luck

Answer 2

I don't know what you can do, i've tryed everything too.. I'm 23 weeks pregnant, and smoke between 4 - 6 a day.. It's hard, I have swapped to rolling tabacco which seemed to stop me alot, now i am on 3 - 5 a day, I don't take it anywhere with me, and just make one to carry in my bag, so i can't smoke as and when..

My partner, parents, friends everyone has stopped smoking around me which seemed to have helped.. you just need the support from others. I also don't smoke anywhere in public!! just try to switch to that (if you don't already have that) and maybe it will help you drop down a little.. Good luck!!

Answer 3

It takes a while for nicotine to leave the body as it's a drug. Cut down on cigarettes, a little at a time. Your ob/gyn could be helpful in that respect, even though you do mention a midwife. I have heard that cutting way down is best if you can't quit altogether. You don't need to go into withdrawal since you're pregnant. Try to limit yourself to just five cigarettes a day when all is said & done. It's better than 10-20. I hope once your baby comes, you will refrain from smoking in the house, as second hand smoke is not good for anyone, especially your new baby.

P.S. Check into "smoking cessation" classes on your own. Your baby will thank you.

Answer 4

One thing I've learned is that anyone can quit smoking. You just stop. Don't buy the cigarettes. Sure, you'll be a witch for a couple of weeks, but that's expected when you're pregnant anyhow. You'll go through cravings, withdrawal, but it's only an imposition for 10-14 days. Just think this way...your making your baby suffer because you don't want to put up with the symptoms that come along with quitting. Not trying to be mean...but I smoke, and I've been pregnant twice, and both times I just stopped...it's not a fun thing, but it's something you have to do...and yes there are crappy consequences...but you'll survive, and it'll give your baby a better chance of surviving also.

Answer 5

I feel for you. I smoked when I was pregnant with my eldest child. I smoked 5 a week, not every week, but that was the average.
She didn't grow properly, and she had dilated kidneys while I was pregnant. I developed pre-eclampsia at 26 weeks.
She was born weighing 5lb 8oz. Her blood sugars were low, and she couldn't suck. They took her to Neonatal where they discovered a heart murmor, during a chest Xray they discovered she had 2 holes in her heart. She's also deaf in one side and has spina bifida occulta which causes infections in her hip joints.

I stopped smoking when I got pregnant with my second child, and she was born at 7lb 14oz and was and is healthy.

This was all the proof I needed. You may be lucky and have a healthy child. By now means do I blame or want to upset you. But I have to look into my daughters eyes, everytime she's in hospital and crying at the blood tests and know that my smoking has damaged her body.

Good luck hun xxxx

Answer 6

My ex sister-in-law was told by her doctor that she could smoke 5 a day.
She definitely smoked them. She now has a healthy little girl. She's 6 and has had no abnormal illnesses.

Maybe you should try to do that. At least cut it back.
Stay busy. You can't smoke if you're in the middle of something.

Good luck

Answer 7

I'm not going to tell you that it's okay for you to be smoking, because you and I both know you are harming your baby. However, I smoked during my pregnancy with my daughter. Not only did I smoke, but I worked in a VERY smoke filled bar as a waitress until I was 36 weeks pregnant. I probably only smoked 5 cigarettes a day, but working in the bar 4 nights a week probably made up for that. She was born 7lbs and is perfectly healthy. My other children were 9 pounders (but the 3 of them are boys) so I can't say whether it's the boy/girl factor that made her weigh less, or the smoking factor. I'm sorry for your dilemma. I don't smoke now, so there is hope for you. It's hard to quit. Good luck to you.

Answer 8

This is a tough problem! I too was at that same cross road many years ago, when I heard the heart beat I threw them in the trash, it was only through visible thoughts I could see the baby with a smoke in it's mouth, I knew I had to be stronger than the crave for the baby. If you can't quit, cut back as much as you can, it's just not good for you and worse for the little one, but no one needs to tell you how hard it is to quit, we have all been there, and done that. Good luck sweety, you'll make it...you are a lot stronger than you think!

Answer 9

This is really hard to do right now because at this point in your pregnancy you may have a lot of stress. The whole idea of bringing a life into the world is so massive that can kind of make it difficult to conjure up will power for other incredible feats like quitting smoking. Ok, so you want to cut down as much as possible. Get yourself down to one a day if you can. (Don't just quit cold turkey, you and your baby will freak out).

Answer 10

Stopping smoking is tough. However, you have a very simple choice. Either refuse to smoke or risk harming your unborn child.

It's not even a case of quitting. You will still want to smoke. Just refuse to do so. It is the only available option. There is no alternative. Do not smoke anymore. End of story.

Once your baby is born, you can puff away to your hearts content.

Answer 11

I smoked before I became pregnant. My doctor was aware of my smoking habits, but after three months (and me being honest about the fact that I hadn't stopped...cut back, but hadn't stopped) he drew the line.

I know that it is TOUGH...I've been there. It's probably one of the hardest things you will EVER do...but, you HAVE to quit....at least long until you have your baby.

Think about this.......even if you are very healthy, and even if there were no health problems in your family....you don't want your baby to start life with a disadvantage....I know, guilt trip...but it's not about you, it's about the baby, so you have to think like that.

If you think about how every thought you have, every morsel you put into your body, and every movement you make may affect your child? You'll see that you have to give up some of what you MAY want, for what's best for your baby. I know, it sounds heavy....but if you spend your time thinking like that, you will give up some of your "bad" habits, long enough to make it through your pregnancy. And it can happen. I did it......I stopped smoking at three months, and was good for a few weeks after delivery, until I went "out" for the first time in a long time about three months after I delivered.......

There's no magic cure, no magic advice. You just have to STOP smoking.....and, everytime you do light up? Your baby is lighting up too.....THAT will make you quit in a hurry. I'm not saying that to judge or chastise...but from personal experience (smile).

Make EVERY attempt to stop smoking now.....it will be better for you and the baby, and who knows....you may quit all together when it's all over.