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Natural Birth
Need Advice on Quitting Smoking
Has anyone previously quit smoking? I'm 17wks and have known that I want to quit, but since I've been pregnant, not only had my urge to smoke increased, but my anxiety has skyrocketed (my doctor just prescribed me a low-dose anti-anxiety to help). I just want to choose the best method possible so I can have the best chance of being successful the first time, because I know that if I fail, it's going to be ten times harder to try again.
Not to mention, I know that I want to do this naturally, and you can't expect to run a marathon when your lungs are working at half-capacity. Plus, I won't be smoking during my labor, and I don't want withdrawal to put additional stress on me.
If you have quit before, know of someone that quit, or have just heard of good methods, please let me know. All I know right now is that my doctor said stopping cold turkey is NOT a good option, because of the stress it will put on me and the baby.
Thanks for your help!
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Re: Need Advice on Quitting Smoking
this.
i smoked my last cigarette the day i found out i was pregnant with #1 (at just under 4 weeks). i just did it. because i had to. b/c it was the best thing for my baby. and the minute i decided to bring another life into this world, i was totally and completely responsible for his health and well-being. there wasn't a thing i would do to jeopardize that.
now, as a hypnotist, i work with people all the time who want to quit. so far, not one of them has had as compelling a reason as you. for them, it's all just been their own health. you have your own health, plus the health of that precious life and beautiful little baby you are growing.
do it for you. but more importantly, do it for your baby. just put them down and don't pick them back up.
there are support groups you can go to. visit www.smokefree.gov. ask your provider for specific resources for pregnant moms. help is out there. you just have to want it!
I had two friends who quit when they got pregnant. Both said it wasn't too hard, but they had to stop hanging around people who smoked (coworkers and friends) and one carried cut up carrots around and sunflower seeds and snacked on those rather than having a smoke.
Obviously I'm not a smoker, but I think just throwing them away and not letting yourself go grocery shopping without DH there to keep you strong and away from buying cigs is a big first start.
...baby #3 is here...
It's a habit and it's been said that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Right now you're in the habit of smoking, so you just have to get in the habit of not smoking.
It takes 72 hours for nicotine to leave your system, after that it's about they physical and mental habits that accompanied nicotine intake.
Think about when you smoke most often. First thing in the morning? After meals? With coffee? It can take some drastic lifestyle changes to elminate all those triggers. Tea instead of coffee? Taking a brisk walk after meals. Having a hot shower or a workout first thing in the morning instead of a smoke.
Do you smoke when you're bored or just killing time? Find something else to do. Take a walk. If you knit or crochet, work on that. Do sudoku or a crossword. You have to replace your triggers and find something constructive to do with idle time. After only 21 days -- only 3 weeks -- you'll have a new habit in place.
Failing all of that (it does take determination at the start), one of my friends said she put cigarette butts in a jar of water and kept it at her bedside. After about a week she couldn't stand the smell any longer and to this day the smell of cigarettes makes her nauseous.
Thank you, that was really helpful. Especially I hadn't thought about really doing things with my hands. One of my biggest problems is I'm REALLY orally fixated, if I'm not smoking a cigarette, I munch really badly even when I'm not hungry. But if I got something to do with my hands (like crocheting or knitting, which I've REALLY wanted to learn how to do so I can make little baby beanies XD ) and just replace that for when I would normally have a cigarette. I think I'm going to have to just do that and still take my "breaks", because one of my biggest triggers is using cigarettes to take a break from whatever activity I'm doing, but instead of cigs I could work on my baby beanie! That's so exciting!
I just really don't know if quitting cold turkey would be right for me. I feel like it would be such an abrupt, intense change that I would have a much higher likelihood of failing than if I tapered off.
Have you started cutting back? I quit for my last pregnancy, and unfortunately I started up again after DS was born. This time, I had a harder time quitting. I wish I was one of those women who was made ill by the smell of cigarettes, it would make quitting way easier.
A lot of what the PPs said was good advice, especially the stuff about keeping your hands occupied and having something to chew on. Also, drinking a glass of water when you have a craving is a great way to wait out the craving while also getting the water you need.
When I found out I was pregnant this time, I had just bought a pack of cigarettes, so I made it my last pack. I cut myself back to almost 1 a day (totally trying to make it last forever, dirty smoker, haha). It is so so hard, trust me, I totally get it. But it is so worth it for your health and the health of your baby, not to mention how incredibly expensive cigarettes are!
You can do it! Its so worth it.
I quit when I got pregnant with my first. I had one more after getting my BFP and would take a puff of somebody else's every once in a while those first few weeks. The craving was SO strong and I also wasn't one of those who just didn't want to after I got pg. They still tasted good and they smelled amazing (i know, weird). My DH quit too, which really helped, and we stopped spending time with smokers to decrease the urge. I would bring carrot sticks, lollipops, etc. with me for situations when I would feel the urge the most (i.e. sitting in traffic, road trips, taking breaks at work, etc.). Just stick to it. Anytime you think you can't make it without one, think of the damage that is being done to your unborn child everytime you pick one up. Trust me, that guilt is enough to help you through.
It was also extremely hard to stay away from them once I had him. I didn't smoke another cigarette until after I was done nursing (13 months) and then it was only socially and once in a blue moon. Set goals for yourself to make sure you don't go back and, if you SO smokes, ask them to quit too. You want to make sure your household is as supportive as possible and third hand smoke is bad for baby anyway. My H and I would have never stayed away if only one of us quit but I'm so glad that we're both done with them and now I can't ever imagine going back. GL!