Looking to quit smoking; need tips

0nirique · November 2014

My DH and I both quit recently. We were both fairly heavy smokers. I managed to quit about a year ago and he did when I told him I was pg. He managed it with hard candy and a vaporizer, but I took a slightly different route.

Laziness. The first step was insisting that we not smoke in the house. We live in an apartment building on the 6th floor so that meant I'd have to go down and then up a bunch of stairs every time I wanted to smoke. I also ruled out smoking while walking and smoking more then one in a row. I basically made myself a bunch of rules that were inconvenient enough to make smoking a major annoyance.

It wasn't exactly mind over matter...it was more mind-set over matter. Instead of being a pleasant break it became a huge hassle. The physical addiction was no match for my desire to stay on the damn couch.

I hope you find something that works for you soon. Try every option!

crikit83 · November 2014

My brother swears by the gum (he quit when his wife got pregnant). Although regular, non-Nicorette style gum may have worked just as well for him, the chewing itself seemed to be what helped. My gram took up knitting to keep her hands busy, and she's also forever rolling papers (receipts and wrappers and whatever).

And talk to your doctor. There are a whole bunch of antidepressants, and it can take some trial and error to get something that works for you, and that doesn't have awful side effects. Also your doctor can probably better advise you about what's on the market that you can safely take (like chantix is a new one, no idea if that's okay for pregnant ladies or not).

[Deleted User] · November 2014

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Katerina&Baby · November 2014

I can't believe I'm actually suggesting this but have you thought of seeing a hypnotist? My mom went with my wacky aunt and my grandmother once (note: my mom wasn't really serious about quitting) and it worked for her - she stopped cold turkey after that.

sjw91988 · November 2014

I quit around week 6 or 7. I knew I had too quit for the health of my baby. Plus it made me nauseous. But I smoked my last pack and just didn't allow my self too stop at the gas station to buy more. It really is a mind over matter thing. Best of luck!

deutschbaby · November 2014

mfleming10 said:
I'm 8 weeks pregnant today and I'm having a hard time quitting smoking, I want to quit for both baby and myself but the cravings are harder to curb than I expected. My doctor prescribed me Wellbutrin which is an anti depressant which has also been known to help many quit smoking. The wellbutrin is like a shot of energy which is good for a little while, but when the crash comes I'm sick to my stomach and then comes cramping. I quit taking the wellbutrin and haven't found another alternative that works well for me. Any suggestions? Thanks!

No advice, I've never been a smoker. But I just wanted to offer you reassurance and my best wishes. You can do this. Quitting is hard, I'll be thinking of you.

[Deleted User] · December 2014

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jrush89 · December 2014

I know what you're going through. With DS I quit as soon as I got my BFP. Didn't start again until he was about 4 months old. This time it was much harder. I had quit when we decided to TTC but after 5 months every time I got AF I would get so upset that by the time we got the BFP I was smoking more than I had been before I had "quit" I had 10 left then so I decided 2 a day for the next 5 days and then done with it. The laziness approach was my approach too. I use my credit card at the pump so I never go in to the station and I just figure it takes more effort to go out and buy them and then go out in the cold to smoke (we never smoked inside or when DS is around/awake anyway) it's hard though, being pg makes you stress, work is a stress, and not smoking is a stress, prepare for some serious bitchiness! It'll be worth it though, promise. And know we're all miserable and craving along with you!

Elley1486 · December 2014

I smoked for a long time but finally quit because I met my DH and he does not smoke and I removed myself from tempting situations and people. I quit cold turkey and took up running. It was easy to not want to smoke when you can't run for 2 minutes without thinking your going to die. Things that have worked for other heavy smokers in my life are candy, gum, straws (cut to length of a cigg, to simulate the holding and you can even puff on them if you need to), hypnosis, acupuncture, and dissociation. Some of these won't be as easy for a pregnant woman, but you have more of a reason to quit than the rest of us did at the time we quit. The hardest for me was right after I ate and driving...I had to find a new thing to replace wanting the cigg. I would get right up from dinner and start cleaning the dishes, the kitchen, I would call people on the phone, go for a walk...whatever it took to get me over the need to smoke. Driving was harder but I used the gum and straw trick. Also, just don't have any ciggs on you, ever. You can't smoke them if you don't have them. And don't let your smoking friends/family cave when you need one or smoke around you. Tell them you and your baby need their support.

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