Does anyone know someone that smokes?

emily0829

Just adding my two cents.

It's easy for those you don't smoke or weren't heavy smokers before their BFP to say that it's selfish. I smoked about a pack a day until the BFP, then cut back considerably. I saw three doctors during that time, and had told them of my desire to quit. They too had said it is better to cut back when you're an avid smoker than to quit cold turkey, as it puts you in distress as well as the baby. I envy women who were able to simply put down their addiction. No sarcasm intended, it truly is amazing.

I tried using the patch, and got incredibly sick. I quit for two years using the patch (going back was such a stupid, TOTALLY STUPID decision to make) The doctor had told me that the patch, for me, is dangerous because I apparently have high blood pressure. I didn't know this until finding out I was pregnant.

I also had to go off of all of my anti depressants, mood stabilizers and anti anxiety medication, including fast acting xanax. When I attempted to quit cold turkey, I had constant anxiety attacks and actually ended up back in the hospital. I use the electronic cigarette, Green Smoke to be exact, that allows you to lower the nicotine level. I'm on low at this point, and will soon be "smoking" the water based vapor without actually getting any nicotine. At that point, it's simply the smoking habit.

That's my story. I can understand when someone would say it's selfish, but there isn't exactly a rehab for smokers. You can't go somewhere and heal yourself of addiction like a woman would if she were smoking meth or snorting cocaine. But don't think that each time I inhale that I don't hate myself for it, and pray that the addiction will subside after taking necessary steps for the health of my child. I don't love my baby any less, and since day one I never thought "Well, I don't care."

Flame away if you'd like.

sturgeje

i know a few actually.  it's kind of sad.  one is my best friend's 17 year old sister.  on top of that, she says she doesn't want an epidural because she doesn't want the baby to come out "drugged up".  but smoking with the baby inside of you when you've had a hard pregnancy so far (low amniotic fluid, high blood pressure, dehydration, etc.) is okay? it's like she thinks not getting the epidural will make up for it somehow.  SO sad.  

 

KRISTA555

I was pregnant within a couple days of an assistant supervisor at my old job.  Turned out I had a chemical pregnancy and she went full term.  It was very disheartening to know that she had a messed up home life with her boyfriend, continued to smoke like a chimney, and it was I who had the chemical pregnancy.   It was hard to watch her smoke outside the break room during my loss, to say the least.

I'm unsure if her baby has any breathing issues because I left that job before her baby was born.

ttimmerman

One of my good friends smoked throughout her pregnancy. She cut way back, but I don't think at any point she quit entirely. Her pregnancy was very unexpected and the result of a rare one-night stand. The stress of dealing with the pregnancy and preparing to be a young single mom on her own was enormous, and as much as she knew she shouldn't smoke, she found it impossible to quit. She wasn't a stupid person and she certainly didn't want to harm her baby...and luckily, the baby was born completely healthy and has never had any problems. I'm not condoning her smoking, but for a heavy smoker, it is VERY hard to quit, especially in such a stressful situation. I was happy she cut back as much as she did.

cutie420311

For those of you that chose to berate people, your friends, random stranger whoever, for smoking, wht exactly do you expect to happen?  That they will throw their cigarettes down and drop to their qnd thank you for butting in to their lives and not minding your own business?

 

I smoked for 15 years, quit when I got pregannt with my DD, but started back again when she was about a month old,  and quit smoking again about a month before I got pregnant, for those of you that have never smoked, don't judge how difficult a habit it is to give up.  You have no idea.

 

I also have a glass of wine per week, which my doctor assures me is perfectly healthy, and by God it makes me feel like a normal person for a few hours.  Flame away.