Giving Up Bad Habits

JulyMama83 · July 2014

Has any other expectant moms struggled to quit smoking? I have done so well but then slip up again when I am stressed out. Does anyone have any suggestions on what may have worked for them? I really want to kick this once and for all!

cMichelle0423 · July 2014

Id talk to you OB about it. I used to smoke prior to both pregnancies and knowing that my child's life depended on me to take care of him, was more than enough to quit cold turkey. If you're typically only smoking a few cigs a day, like 3 or 4 (before pregnancy), you shouldn't be smoking at all now that your into your 2nd tri. If you were smoking like 1 to 2 packs a day, then that'd be a different story. Just quit. Don't buy them, don't bum them off anyone, just stay away from them. Find another way to cope with stress.

peggels24 · July 2014

I was lucky in that I had an immediate aversion to them - the smell, the taste (just the thought right now makes me want to vomit). I don't have any advice for you but I wanted to wish you the best of luck.

myah1881 · July 2014

I am having the same issue. I was smoking 1 pack sometimes more a day. I have stopped for a weeks at a time but get so stressed out and the only thing that can bring me back down is smoking. I am completely ashamed about it. I haven't talked to my doctor yet for that sole reason....I really don't know what other way to combat stress. This is a really good question that i have felt to ashamed to ask...
Has anyone had any success with patches?? What about patches and a ecig without nicotine. I've tried patches and lozenges but they do not help I need to feel the cigarette in my hand. Next month I am going to buy a ecig and some patches. I assume that is healthier then smoking and that after a couple weeks with the patch and the ecig i can stop using nicotine all together and just use the ecig without nicotine.

JulyMama83 · July 2014

Thank you for the support ladies, and myah it was very hard for me to tell my OB for the same reason but they have been encouraging in me trying to quit as well rather than shaming me for not being there yet like I want so badly to be. I had just heard a rumor that when you smoke so much pre pregnancy that quitting cold turkey can be more detrimental than cutting it out slowly, does anyone know if there's any truth in that?

Unknown · July 2014

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TLGBaby2 · July 2014

I quit the day I found out, however, I still crave them. I cant stand the smell of them right now. I'm just hoping I can stay away from them after having this baby.

ElizaRae92 · July 2014

I have had the same issue. The gum didn't work, neither did the patches. But I did get a vape pen, the permanent e-cigs, and use a liquid that has no nicotine. My doctor says it's okay, but all in all, you really need to talk to your doctor to see what he/she says is acceptable, and they will be able to give you the best advise.

kkhaney · July 2014

My opinion is just that. Before pregnancy I smoked about 5 or 6 cigs a day. When I quit i just quit. I'm not so selfish that I can't give up something for the sake of my baby's health. After all it is my job to do my best to keep my baby healthy. Since we found I was pregant we have also found out that my H's gma was bad sick. She actually ended up passing away on wed the 16th. So stress to me is no excuss. If you want to, you will. If you don't, you won't. In my opinion it really is that simple. We are all our babies have to to depend on and if they can't start now.. When can they?

myah1881 · July 2014

Nicb13 said:

myah1881 said:

I am having the same issue. I was smoking 1 pack sometimes more a day. I have stopped for a weeks at a time but get so stressed out and the only thing that can bring me back down is smoking. I am completely ashamed about it. I haven't talked to my doctor yet for that sole reason....I really don't know what other way to combat stress. This is a really good question that i have felt to ashamed to ask...
Has anyone had any success with patches?? What about patches and a ecig without nicotine. I've tried patches and lozenges but they do not help I need to feel the cigarette in my hand. Next month I am going to buy a ecig and some patches. I assume that is healthier then smoking and that after a couple weeks with the patch and the ecig i can stop using nicotine all together and just use the ecig without nicotine.

Are you currently pregnant? If so you need to talk to a doctor ASAP about all this. Don't waste another minute. You definitely shouldn't just stop cold turkey but you cannot keep smoking and only your doctor can tell you what products are safe to use in order to quit. I have no idea if patches are safe while pregnant so please ask a doctor. I know you feel ashamed, I get that, but the damage you could be doing to the baby would be far worse than the shame you are feeling about smoking. Good luck.

I see my doctor tomorrow about quitting. I told her about it. I am very anxious to get this going. I have also heard about this cold turkey thing too. Thankyou!

And yes I am pregnant.

drpayne · July 2014

I think if you read a few horror stories of babies born early because their moms smoked, that could help. I would try to look at it as the perfect time to quit. It's critical now..... but it's not like it's not important after birth. Do you want to be THAT mom who smokes? Do you want have to either explain it to or hide it from your child? Would you rather be healthy so you can have the energy to keep up with a toddler? Do you want to see your kid grow up? Get married? Etc. Quitting is NEVER easier but unless you want to be a smoker until it kills you, now really is the best time.

If your health isn't enough to make you quit smoking, then the health of your baby should be. Smoking during pregnancy affects you and your baby's health before, during, and after your baby is born. The nicotine (the addictive substance in cigarettes), carbon monoxide, and numerous other poisons you inhale from a cigarette are carried through your bloodstream and go directly to your baby. Smoking while pregnant will:

Lower the amount of oxygen available to you and your growing baby.
Increase your baby's heart rate.
Increase the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth.
Increase the risk that your baby is born prematurely and/or born with low birth weight.
Increase your baby's risk of developing respiratory (lung) problems.
Increases risks of birth defects.
Increases risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

The more cigarettes you smoke per day, the greater your baby's chances of developing these and other health problems. There is no "safe" level of smoking while pregnant.

https://www.google.com/search?q=babies+of+moms+who+smoked+while+pregnant&client=firefox-a&hs=YLB&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=NcHXU-zYLurm8AGo9YF4&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=615#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=v3du9yCzACLwEM%253A%3Blle_helBNFj1yM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.golfound.com%252Fnews_m3.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.golfound.com%252Fnews_medical.htm%3B219%3B164

https://www.google.com/search?q=babies+of+moms+who+smoked+while+pregnant&client=firefox-a&hs=YLB&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=NcHXU-zYLurm8AGo9YF4&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=615#channel=sb&q=preterm+babies+of+moms+who+smoked&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=rTajuKii_wBYLM%253A%3Bgy3WMg2PmUjA2M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-kFZH3i2iTuQ%252FT9sfcx6ce-I%252FAAAAAAAAAK0%252FuaLzzwNmj6s%252Fs1600%252Fphoto.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F5strandsofhope.blogspot.com%252F2012%252F06%252Fsmokings-bad-article-about-risks-to.html%3B1600%3B1200

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