Smoking and pregnancy?

monicap11 · September 2015

I know smoking and pregnancy isn't good. I cut down a lot I've tried quitting but just can't seem to do it. My question is how many moms smoked while pregnant n still went full term. I am 35 weeks n I am so curious as to if I should be expecting my lo early or not

cMichelle0423 · September 2015

monicap11 said:
I know smoking and pregnancy isn't good. I cut down a lot I've tried quitting but just can't seem to do it. My question is how many moms smoked while pregnant n still went full term. I am 35 weeks n I am so curious as to if I should be expecting my lo early or not

QFP

jscasher · September 2015

Does your doctor know you still smoke?

If anyone has any idea on if you'll deliver early or not, it's going to be your doctor.

Edit: I wasn't going to say anything but I can't help it. You CAN quit, you just won't. I smoked heavily for 7 years. I had been using an e-cigarette when I found out I was pregnant. Then I threw all of it away and haven't looked back. Would I kill for a beer and a cigarette? Absolutely. Am I going to subject my unborn child to those toxins? Hell no. So don't expect much understanding about continuing to smoke, because I'd say more often than not, most of us just suck it up and quit.

StrawberryDuck · September 2015

You can't do it? Have you watched videos of what happens to an unborn baby every time you took a drag of your fag? You should! You'd quit in a heartbeat!

Knottie1442268460 · September 2015

Early birth isn't the only bad thing that can happen. Our current LO has PT caused partially from tight muscles due to cigarettes.

helsbels222 · September 2015

I'm ashamed to admit it but I quit smoking when I was 5 months pregnant with my first. I understand it's difficult but there are so many other risks than just delivering early. I did happen to deliver at 34 weeks but my doctor does not feel it was due to smoking. My child also needs a nebulizer during allergy season, again the doctor says it cannot really be linked to my smoking for most of the pregnancy but I still can't help but wonder. Why put yourself through that and take a risk? On the plus side I have been a quitter since then and have never looked back.

Are you going to continue to smoke after your baby is born? Just do it, quit! Honestly now is the easiest time.

suteki325 · September 2015

You can quit. I know it's hard. I was a heavy smoker up until I had my BFP. I would love to say that I quit cold turkey right then and there, but I didn't. It took me a few weeks to completely wean myself off, and now its been three months since I last smoked. I promise you that I don't even miss it now, or give it a a second thought. The cravings will and do go away. Even just one or two less cigarettes a day, until you're down to zero a day. You can do it.

Bigboobsmcgee · September 2015

I know that quitting smoking is incredibly difficult but I am blown away that instead of maybe asking for tips and tricks to try and quit, you'd rather find out if other smokers have had their babies early because they just couldn't quit. What the hell dude? This is appalling. I won't sugar coat it.

nik6499 · September 2015

There is absolutely no way to determine if you will go into pre term labor. It's a risk that is confounded by your continued smoking, so it could happen but it might not. Even at your advanced gestation it is in babies best interest to cook as long as possible. I would suggest you have this conversation with your provider as they may be able to provide some insight.

Hector33 · September 2015

Im sorry but nothing annoys me more when I hear and see this kind of thing happening (smoking, drugs and alcohol). You have a little human growing inside of you that doesn't have a voice and is completely defense-less to your selfish choices. You are pregnant for 40 weeks out of your life!

queenwog · September 2015

There's a difference between can't and won't. I have no sympathy for people that put their unborn children through that. My sympathy is for your child who will suffer because of your unwillingness to stop forcing poisons on him/her.

If you've made it that far into pregnancy while smoking you're lucky. Someone I know had a baby last year at 25 weeks gestation because she refused to quit smoking. That poor child has has a lot of health issues because of it.

If you think any of the risks involved are worth it just to keep smoking, shame on you.

sorarose · September 2015

Besides the fact you are continuing to smoke while pregnant, you will also be exposing your poor baby's lungs to secondhand smoke when your LO is born, as it clearly sounds like you're trying to justify your decision in this situation. This makes me really sad.

kate9nkhipy · September 2015

I find it quite annoying when people, including some of my friends say they just can't quit, while pregnant!! I've smoked for 11 years & quit as soon as I found out I was pregnant & haven't looked back since! His health is the most important thing to me! You can absolutely quit!!

alyx935 · September 2015

I think your all quite judgmental . she's not asking for your opinion on whether you should smoke or not . shes asking if anyone who DID smoke went full term or delivered early. I smoked with my first (cut down dramatically) and she turned out perfectly fine . I'm 33 with number two and gave up 3 days ago after smoking for 9 years . my son is healthy and growing like he should . for a long time I couldn't quit because the withdraw symptoms would leave me with terrible migraines . insomnia and I would get so angry and frustrated and would take it out on everyone around me . so don't tell her she is being selfish its so mentally challenging to overcome any addiction . grow up ladies !!

TheTamedShrew · September 2015

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/resources/index.htm

Unica1302+ · September 2015

My cousin and a co worker got pregnant at the same time at my old job 5 years ago. Smoker ended up going full term and baby weighted more than my cousins. As far as I knew baby was fine but I did leave that job before she returned from maternity leave. This can't possibly be common tho. ..

queenwog · September 2015

@alyx935 Are you seriously defending smoking during pregnancy?

sarahsnowball · September 2015

alyx935 said:
I think your all quite judgmental . she's not asking for your opinion on whether you should smoke or not . shes asking if anyone who DID smoke went full term or delivered early. I smoked with my first (cut down dramatically) and she turned out perfectly fine . I'm 33 with number two and gave up 3 days ago after smoking for 9 years . my son is healthy and growing like he should . for a long time I couldn't quit because the withdraw symptoms would leave me with terrible migraines . insomnia and I would get so angry and frustrated and would take it out on everyone around me . so don't tell her she is being selfish its so mentally challenging to overcome any addiction . grow up ladies !!

Many people here (myself included) are former smokers who quit when we got pregnant or started TTC. We do understand the addiction perfectly, because we have been there and we also persevered through the withdrawal symptoms, but we put our babies first.
When a baby's health is compromised, I would rather be called 'judgemental' than sit back knowing I didn't say anything to the mother who is harming her baby.
Sincerely, I'm glad your kids turned out fine. You got lucky. But people like me and PPs will never stop sharing our stories in the hope that they may persuade somebody to put their baby first and quit smoking.

thegingeravenger · September 2015

Sooo by some of the logic in here I could have kept up my quite heavy alcohol consumption because there's no concrete amount that leads to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Yeah, no.

I have no story nor no advice for the OP, I just wanted to throw that out there.

helsbels222 · September 2015

alyx935 said:
I think your all quite judgmental . she's not asking for your opinion on whether you should smoke or not . shes asking if anyone who DID smoke went full term or delivered early. I smoked with my first (cut down dramatically) and she turned out perfectly fine . I'm 33 with number two and gave up 3 days ago after smoking for 9 years . my son is healthy and growing like he should . for a long time I couldn't quit because the withdraw symptoms would leave me with terrible migraines . insomnia and I would get so angry and frustrated and would take it out on everyone around me . so don't tell her she is being selfish its so mentally challenging to overcome any addiction . grow up ladies !!

Grow up? We should grow up because we are sharing our stories and trying to attempt to help this woman overcome her addiction? Addicts need to hear how their choices are affecting their loved ones. I struggled with quitting after smoking for 13yrs. It's a long process, most can't just stop cold turkey. I have struggled and watched family members struggle with addiction as I'm sure many of the posters have as well so spare us the lecture that addiction is mentally challenging and we should leave OP alone.

You are so lucky that you have quit for 3 days now and don't feel any withdrawal symptoms. You still have a long road ahead of you unfortunately. Just take it one day at a time and think of your babies. Remember that just because you got lucky and your first is fine, doesn't mean you will always get lucky and that everyone will. It's a gamble that I'm sure no mother wants to take when it comes to her children.

aleecats · September 2015

alyx935 said:
I think your all quite judgmental . she's not asking for your opinion on whether you should smoke or not . shes asking if anyone who DID smoke went full term or delivered early. I smoked with my first (cut down dramatically) and she turned out perfectly fine . I'm 33 with number two and gave up 3 days ago after smoking for 9 years . my son is healthy and growing like he should . for a long time I couldn't quit because the withdraw symptoms would leave me with terrible migraines . insomnia and I would get so angry and frustrated and would take it out on everyone around me . so don't tell her she is being selfish its so mentally challenging to overcome any addiction . grow up ladies !!

@alyx935 I can tell you first hand I know addiction. And to a lot more than cigarettes, my fiancé and I are both recovering addicts from heavy drugs and alcohol as well as self harm. Luckily I've been clean from drugs for 3 years now he's been clean four. Self harm I'm no so far along only 10 months but going strong! What got me through my withdrawals from that was smoking, I've been smoking for 9 years and after I sobered up I started smoking a pack and a half a day. The day I got my BFP both my fiancé and I quit. But here's the thing because of my past drug use my withdrawals were worse coming off the cigs than anyone else's would be (that hasn't used), I suffered through weeks of hell being sick and angry and I almost relapsed many times on many things but I got through it. In not gonna lie around month 4 of my pregnancy I broke and bought a pack off newports. I took two hits and I can tell you this 1)it tasted like shit and 2) the emotional turmoil I felt the moment I took a drag hit me like a ton of bricks. All I could do is remember what it was going to my poor little girl who didn't have a say in the matter, who did and always will rely on me to keep her safe. 2 drags was all I took and it was the guiltiest moment of my life! I threw the pack and I haven't touched one since.
No one said addiction or over coming it was easy but it also isn't impossible and it's a choice to do it or not. It's a choice to push through the shit that comes with it and the withdrawals but it's worth it, if not for yourself then for your defenseless child. There is no "cant" there's only I don't want to.

StrawberryDuck · September 2015

alyx935 said:

I think your all quite judgmental . she's not asking for your opinion on whether you should smoke or not . shes asking if anyone who DID smoke went full term or delivered early. I smoked with my first (cut down dramatically) and she turned out perfectly fine . I'm 33 with number two and gave up 3 days ago after smoking for 9 years . my son is healthy and growing like he should . for a long time I couldn't quit because the withdraw symptoms would leave me with terrible migraines . insomnia and I would get so angry and frustrated and would take it out on everyone around me . so don't tell her she is being selfish its so mentally challenging to overcome any addiction . grow up ladies !!

Growing up is about realizing you're FULLY responsible for the life you've created and protecting that life with every ounce of your being! It is NOT about 'woe is me, I need a cig or else I'll shout at other people and fuck the life I'm supposed to be protecting'.

I'm 35 with the only kid I'll ever have, I quit for her, because she depended on me to keep her safe, and if others can't do that, they need to GROW UP!

Bigboobsmcgee · September 2015

alyx935 said:

I think your all quite judgmental . she's not asking for your opinion on whether you should smoke or not . shes asking if anyone who DID smoke went full term or delivered early. I smoked with my first (cut down dramatically) and she turned out perfectly fine . I'm 33 with number two and gave up 3 days ago after smoking for 9 years . my son is healthy and growing like he should . for a long time I couldn't quit because the withdraw symptoms would leave me with terrible migraines . insomnia and I would get so angry and frustrated and would take it out on everyone around me . so don't tell her she is being selfish its so mentally challenging to overcome any addiction . grow up ladies !!

This is sad. Shame on you.

Bigboobsmcgee · September 2015

queenwog said:

@alyx935 Are you seriously defending smoking during pregnancy?

Because HER baby turned out fine. Pathetic. Awful. Irresponsible.

Bigboobsmcgee · September 2015

I know a 21 year old woman that has an oxygen tank full time, she weighs about 75 pounds and is in constant pain because of complications from her mother smoking while pregnant. Breaks my heart.

Gingermom15 · September 2015

aleecats said:

alyx935 said:
I think your all quite judgmental . she's not asking for your opinion on whether you should smoke or not . shes asking if anyone who DID smoke went full term or delivered early. I smoked with my first (cut down dramatically) and she turned out perfectly fine . I'm 33 with number two and gave up 3 days ago after smoking for 9 years . my son is healthy and growing like he should . for a long time I couldn't quit because the withdraw symptoms would leave me with terrible migraines . insomnia and I would get so angry and frustrated and would take it out on everyone around me . so don't tell her she is being selfish its so mentally challenging to overcome any addiction . grow up ladies !!
@alyx935 I can tell you first hand I know addiction. And to a lot more than cigarettes, my fiancé and I are both recovering addicts from heavy drugs and alcohol as well as self harm. Luckily I've been clean from drugs for 3 years now he's been clean four. Self harm I'm no so far along only 10 months but going strong! What got me through my withdrawals from that was smoking, I've been smoking for 9 years and after I sobered up I started smoking a pack and a half a day. The day I got my BFP both my fiancé and I quit. But here's the thing because of my past drug use my withdrawals were worse coming off the cigs than anyone else's would be (that hasn't used), I suffered through weeks of hell being sick and angry and I almost relapsed many times on many things but I got through it. In not gonna lie around month 4 of my pregnancy I broke and bought a pack off newports. I took two hits and I can tell you this 1)it tasted like shit and 2) the emotional turmoil I felt the moment I took a drag hit me like a ton of bricks. All I could do is remember what it was going to my poor little girl who didn't have a say in the matter, who did and always will rely on me to keep her safe. 2 drags was all I took and it was the guiltiest moment of my life! I threw the pack and I haven't touched one since.
No one said addiction or over coming it was easy but it also isn't impossible and it's a choice to do it or not. It's a choice to push through the shit that comes with it and the withdrawals but it's worth it, if not for yourself then for your defenseless child. There is no "cant" there's only I don't want to.

I was reluctant to comment as I have never been an addict myself or a smoker. But I have to agree with you. My dad recently quit cold turkey after 30+ years of smoking and it took a wake up call of a spot in his lung to get him to do it. He enjoyed it before, he never had the "want" to quit. It's been a year and a half and cigarette smoke makes him sick.
I would think that protecting the health of her defenceless child would be enough for a mother to give up that "want".
Good job to you and your husband in getting clean. Addiction is a terrible thing to watch someone endure and over-come. I couldn't even imagine being the one fighting it. Be proud of yourselves.

StrawberryDuck · September 2015

Bigboobsmcgee said:
I know a 21 year old woman that has an oxygen tank full time, she weighs about 75 pounds and is in constant pain because of complications from her mother smoking while pregnant. Breaks my heart.

COPD? (Chronic obstructive pulmanary disease)

eamarat · September 2015

https://www.babycenter.com/0_how-smoking-during-pregnancy-affects-you-and-your-baby_1405720.bc?page=1

MyCousinVinny · September 2015

I'd like to offer my true feelings on this thread in the manner I'd like but I'd get banned.

So I will say to you, OP, stop smoking. You CAN do it, you just don't want to. There is a difference.

kynbar5 · September 2015

I feel like these women that "can't" give up smoking (or any other potentially hazardous habit) to carry a child for a measly 9 months out of their whole life are the same ones that will leave their child in a car or home alone to go to the club for "me time". Say what you want about this personal opinion of mine but you have the privilege of bringing a life into this world. Please don't take that lightly or for granted. You are this baby's #1 advocate and if you can't do him/her the simple task of bringing her/him into the world as healthy as possible (I know there are some things that are out of a mother's hands but CHOICES aren't one of them) then maybe you should have thought about that before getting pregnant or let one of the many women who long to have a child and can't show the baby the love it deserves. Like I said, just my opinion.
Edited for spelling.

Bigboobsmcgee · September 2015

kynbar5 said:

I feel like these women that "can't" give up smoking (or any other potentially hazardous habit) to carry a child for a measly 9 months out of their whole life are the same ones that will leave their child in a car or home alone to go to the club for "me time". Say what you want about this personal opinion of mine but you have the privilege of bringing a life into this world. Please don't take that lightly or for granted. You are this baby's #1 advocate and if you can't do him/her the simple task of bringing her/him into the world as healthy as possible (I know there are some things that are out of a mother's hands but CHOICES aren't one of them) then maybe you should have thought about that before getting pregnant or let one of the many women who long to have a child and can't show the baby the love it deserves. Like I said, just my opinion. Edited for spelling.

Pretty much all of this. I HAVE quit smoking before. Twice. When I was pregnant with each of my kids. Despite the fact that I was only smoking while drinking, it was still really hard but we all have that choice to make. Nothing is too hard to quit if you actually want to. There are tons of resources out there to help you.

Sorry, I'll stop beating the dead horse.

aleecats · September 2015

@sarahgn thank you so much! I'm glad your dad got his wake up call and it's amazing he was able to quit!
It's hard to let go of something you rely on to function, as I did with most of my addictions, but while in treatment for my issues my therapist as well as the staff told me constantly no one can make you want to quit. And until you accept that and chose for yourself to quit you won't but the only thing standing in your way is you. I took that to heart and when I did accept it it became easier. So though I'm understanding of mental health and addiction and I am truly a compassionate person when someone is dealing with it I cannot stand when people use it as an excuse to continue to harm those around them. It is one thing to chose to harm yourself because you aren't ready to let go but the moment you chose to harm a defenseless person you become selfish in my eyes.
I advise anyone to pick up an AA or NA book oo matter what your struggling with, even EA is good. The biggest thing I say take from it is from they're mantra "it works if you work it".

FinePlacentaPie · September 2015

alyx935 said:

I think your all quite judgmental . she's not asking for your opinion on whether you should smoke or not . shes asking if anyone who DID smoke went full term or delivered early. I smoked with my first (cut down dramatically) and she turned out perfectly fine . I'm 33 with number two and gave up 3 days ago after smoking for 9 years . my son is healthy and growing like he should . for a long time I couldn't quit because the withdraw symptoms would leave me with terrible migraines . insomnia and I would get so angry and frustrated and would take it out on everyone around me . so don't tell her she is being selfish its so mentally challenging to overcome any addiction . grow up ladies !!

Please don't make this your TB hill to die on. She is being selfish, period. Yes, it is challenging, but there are certain challenges you are expected to overcome as a parent. This is one of them. Your needs and addictions don't get to come first anymore. Migraines, insomnia, and mood swings are a pretty small price to pay to guarantee the health of your child.

GAgirlinSDakota · September 2015

*****WARNING...Gross Pictures*****

This is a healthy placenta. You know, that thing keeping your baby alive and healthy.

This is a smoker's placenta. This is what smoking does to your baby's life support system. If their entire support system looks like this, how do you think it does to their development? Yes, with all the help and resources out there, this is very selfish.

Bigboobsmcgee · September 2015

^^^ that's so freaking sad

helsbels222 · September 2015

GAgirlinSDakota said:
*****WARNING...Gross Pictures*****

This is a healthy placenta. You know, that thing keeping your baby alive and healthy.
This is a smoker's placenta. This is what smoking does to your baby's life support system. If their entire support system looks like this, how do you think it does to their development? Yes, with all the help and resources out there, this is very selfish.

But the baby is healthy and growing as he should.

GAgirlinSDakota · September 2015

helsbels222 said:

*****WARNING...Gross Pictures*****

This is a healthy placenta. You know, that thing keeping your baby alive and healthy.
This is a smoker's placenta. This is what smoking does to your baby's life support system. If their entire support system looks like this, how do you think it does to their development? Yes, with all the help and resources out there, this is very selfish.

But the baby is healthy and growing as he should.

Sometimes the damage caused by smoking isn't known until after birth. We have a family member who smoked throughout her pregnancies. Despite her claims of "baby is measuring fine" she delivered slightly early, with a black placenta like above. Both pregnancies. Both have had breathing problems since birth. Both of her children are very delayed. It's more noticeable in her 4yr old who operates at an 18month old level. Yeah, the baby could be just fine, but I'd never take that risk, b/c I never want to look at my baby struggling and feel that level of guilt.

urby87 · September 2015

GAgirlinSDakota said:

helsbels222 said:

*****WARNING...Gross Pictures*****

This is a healthy placenta. You know, that thing keeping your baby alive and healthy.
This is a smoker's placenta. This is what smoking does to your baby's life support system. If their entire support system looks like this, how do you think it does to their development? Yes, with all the help and resources out there, this is very selfish.

But the baby is healthy and growing as he should.

Sometimes the damage caused by smoking isn't known until after birth. We have a family member who smoked throughout her pregnancies. Despite her claims of "baby is measuring fine" she delivered slightly early, with a black placenta like above. Both pregnancies. Both have had breathing problems since birth. Both of her children are very delayed. It's more noticeable in her 4yr old who operates at an 18month old level. Yeah, the baby could be just fine, but I'd never take that risk, b/c I never want to look at my baby struggling and feel that level of guilt.

My oldest nephew (now 12) has suffered with breathing/sinus issues his entire life, and it is most likely due to the fact that my sister "couldn't" quit smoking while pregnant. He had chronic ear infections as a baby. He needed several sets of tubes (they kept falling out and needing to be replaced), and had his adenoids removed before he was school-aged. He also has asthma and needed regular nebulizer treatments, though this is not as troublesome now as it used to be. Normal growth doesn't necessarily mean a healthy baby. There is no way to check for things like this until s/he is out in the world.

Bigboobsmcgee · September 2015

helsbels222 said:

*****WARNING...Gross Pictures*****

This is a healthy placenta. You know, that thing keeping your baby alive and healthy.
This is a smoker's placenta. This is what smoking does to your baby's life support system. If their entire support system looks like this, how do you think it does to their development? Yes, with all the help and resources out there, this is very selfish.

But the baby is healthy and growing as he should.

Pretty sure this is sarcasm...

urby87 · September 2015

Bigboobsmcgee said:

helsbels222 said:

*****WARNING...Gross Pictures*****

This is a healthy placenta. You know, that thing keeping your baby alive and healthy.
This is a smoker's placenta. This is what smoking does to your baby's life support system. If their entire support system looks like this, how do you think it does to their development? Yes, with all the help and resources out there, this is very selfish.

But the baby is healthy and growing as he should.

Pretty sure this is sarcasm...

You must be right. I hadn't paid attention to who posted it before responding.

aleecats · September 2015

Bigboobsmcgee said:

helsbels222 said:

GAgirlinSDakota said:
*****WARNING...Gross Pictures*****

This is a healthy placenta. You know, that thing keeping your baby alive and healthy.
This is a smoker's placenta. This is what smoking does to your baby's life support system. If their entire support system looks like this, how do you think it does to their development? Yes, with all the help and resources out there, this is very selfish.

But the baby is healthy and growing as he should.

Pretty sure this is sarcasm...

After the complete stupidity I've seen on this thread I'd question it too.

ETA; I did know it was sarcasm

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