almost 10 weeks pregnant

[bethmullens]

Hi
I am almost 10 weeks pregnant now - was smoking for a while after i found out but then went cold turkey for a week. I have found it really hard this week and have an odd couple of drags - i feel so guilty do you think this would have caused me problems??? I am so worried i have damaged my baby!!!

[McNoodle]

Stop smoking.

[redcrx]

dont panic beth. if you manage to quit now then Im sure the chances of you harming your baby are extremely slim.

Good luck with the quitting.

[lafrancaise]

Whenever you feel like lighting up just imagine your baby with a cigarette in his mouth, it sure takes the urge away. Get plenty of fresh air in your lungs and your baby will be fine.

[smiffy65]

when you want to light up take a long hard look at the nasty ciggie and ask yourself, what do really want most that fag or a beautiful healthy baby, please read alan carrs book how to stop smoking easy, brilliant book all about logic,no scaremongering

[bethmullens]

Thanks so much just a little suggestions anything that is going to help! i hate the fact i can do this to my own baby!!

[loukr]

when you feel like one, have some chewing gum instead, I've heard this helps. However, the fact that you are pregnant should be a big enough reason to give up??

[pixie_woo]

Before people have a huge go me I do not condone smoking while pregnant but a couple of my friends have smoked throughout pregnancy and had healthy, but small, babies. I agree you should give up and I am in the same predicament as you.
The only way I stop my self from smoking is staying busy for as long as I am awake. The result is I'm knackered and going to bed at 9.00pm!
I can appreciate that you really want to stop, cos I do too, but the fact that there is little life inside you doesn't stop the cravings, mood swings and constantly fiddling that comes with nicotine withdrawal. Try not swap one habit for another e.g chewing gum for fags cos thats not really tackling the problem. Hypnotherapy is supposed to be effective, why not give that a go?
Good luck and please let me know how you get on.
p.s I'm prepared for the stick I'm going to get but at least I'm trying, so is bethmullens so please keep that in mind.

[loukr]

yes but surely swapping a pack of fags for chewing gum is cheaper and healthier??, it's not a habit it's just until you lose the cravings. I smoked for a while and gave up instantly.

When it depends on something so important.. it's really not all that hard to give up.

And Pixie, true your friends had healthy but small babies, but that's not the worst that could happen.

Search on the net, I'm sure some of the information you find out will be enough to put you of smoking for life.

QUOTE::There are some activities you should avoid all together while pregnant and smoking cigarettes is one of them. No question about it, smoking when you�re pregnant is a very bad choice. Women who smoke during pregnancy are much more likely to experience the nightmare of having a stillborn baby, to suffer a miscarriage, or to deliver a low birth-weight baby. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (or SIDS, for short), condition in which an apparently healthy baby dies unexpectedly during sleep, occurs twice as often in children born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy.

and that's not enough::
The effects of smoking hold additional risks for women. Those who smoke throughout their pregnancies increase the risk of:

* Spontaneous abortion/miscarriage
* Ectopic pregnancy
* Abruptio placentae
* Placenta previa
* Premature rupture of the membranes
* Premature birth

Risks to the fetus include:

* Smaller infant(for gestational age)
* Stillborn infant
* Birth defects, e.g. congenital limb reduction
* Increased nicotine receptors in baby's brain
* Increased likelihood of child smoking as a teenager
* Possible physical and mental long-term effects

[Finance Guy]

Loukr, all of your facts are accurate and I guess you are using a shock tactic on Bethmullen! Effective im sure, but very strong on somebody clearly asking for help - not condemnation!

Beth, he is 100% right about the possible side effects and i'm, sure you know that. See your GP and explain the problem, they can advise you on the best way to handle this, including some pregnancy friendy alternatives!

There is plenty of pregancy support groups too, just google 'pregnancy support' and your home town. It may help to talk with somebody who understands.

Im sure your baby will be beautiful and perfect.

Good luck

[bethmullens]

Thank you for all your thoughts on this matter!
Also thanks Pixie_woo, i know how other people feel on the matter i was exactly the same when my friend was smoking whilst she was pregnant and i always thought when i get pregnant thats the first thing ill do is give up the fags! but now it has happened i am shocked with myself how hard i am finding it even though i have such a special reason to give it up!! Well i am going try all suggestions, and thank you loukr you obviously think strongly on this matter i have also looked into all the things it can cause and it is very worrying the effect smoking could do to my unborn!
Good luck also Pixie_woo, i again am trying to go cold turkey and so far so good! it has been a few days and now with the advice and thoughts of others i may find it easier this time.
Beth

[mycats]

Good luck with stopping beth, maybe you could also print out that list of horrible things that could happen that loukr posted and stick it up somewhere, everytime you want a fag, read that.

[loukr]

She.. i'm a she! hehe. And I didn't state those facts to shock etc, just alot of people are unaware of the side effects on your child so I thought I'd post..

[BBWCHATT]

Beth -
Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I am an old lady now - who still smokes after all these years. The only time I did stop smoking was when I was pregnant. I quit cold turkey like you are attempting - even though back in the day we didn't have all the information you have now - I just knew that smoking and drinking were not good for the baby. When the craving was bad - I did a physical activity of some kind - any kind - cleaning house - taking a walk - playing a game - playing with children of family members. They say you make or break a habit in 21 days - so if you just take it one day at a time - smoking, just like anything else, will get a tiny bit easier with each passing day.

Maybe it would also help to tell yourself that you aren't REALLY quitting - you are just postponing it until after the baby gets here!!!

My son is all grown up now. I am a small woman - only 5 feet 2 inches tall. He was 10 pounds when he was born - a grown man now and more than a foot taller than I am :) Was it worth my discomfort - you bet it was - hang in there, if I did it, you can do it too sweetie!!!

[loukr]

hey if you do take it up again after you've had the child, don't smoke around it, remember that can damage a child's body.

If you've given up and feel happy why start again?

[jacquiehewit]

hi ismoked with my first child who then developed athma through me smoking and a few other smoking related prolems so thats a GUILT TRIPbut didnt smoke with my second who has no problems i know it hard but give it all your worth good luck jacquie

[sheribee]

Hi beth. well i have had experience of smoking in prregnancy, as i smoked during 3 pregnancies. im 26! well my 1st preg. i misscarried at 10 wks. my 2nd i went for my scan and was told my baby had died at 7 wks, and i had to have everything removed! then i fell again, i stopped straight away, as i knew the dangers then. A wk later my father in law died. so i smoked for about a week, so i would have been about 7-8 wk preg. then i stopped and sailed through my prgnancy. My beautiful baby was born 8lb!!! im only tiny myself. My friend however who couldnt give up in her preg. her waters broke at 29 wks, she spent 3 wks in hosp and went into prem labor at 32 wks, babt was born weighing 3lb, and was very poorly! My daughter was perfect. But at 4 yrs old she developed asthma. I will never know now if it was my fault she got asthma, and its horrible to think it could have been my fault!! The baby is fully developed by 12 wks.. it just grows from then onwards, the 1st 12 wks are the crucial time when all the organs and systems are begining. Smoking in pregnancy is the cause of 120,000 miscarriages every year!!!! Along with the hundreds of babys that die of cot death too. If i had my time with her again, i would have given up before i even started trying to get preg. As i said, im 26, im not giving u a telling off or a guilt trip.. but i have been there, and having a baby, being a mum is all about sacrifice. i would give my life for my child!!!! giving up smoking is a small sacrifice to make to give your baby the very best chance in life!!!! I did a study on smoking in preg when i was in college, and its really really scary stuff... what it does to your baby. Its really not worth it. All i did whenever i wanted a fag when i was preg, was pick up my scan photo and thought about my baby... remember.... sacrifice!!!! Good luck beth. it really is the best thing for your baby xx

[chelsea_girl]

Think which is most important here. Smoking or your baby. Smoking will not bring you the love and enjoyment of a baby. My sister in law smoked continuously during her pregnancy, and ended up with a small for dates baby. That baby suffers from asthma from time to time. I never smoked with any of mine, i don't like smoking, and all three were normal birthweight, and no chest problems. just remember, every time you light that cigarette, you're sharing it and allowing your child to smoke as well.

[pixie_woo]

Hi Beth
A little personal posting to say that I haven't had a cigarette for a week, not even a crafty drag!
I know seven days isn't that long in the scale of things but I feel its an achievement.
I hope you are doing well and you scan has shown everything to be fine. I've got my first scan 5 Dec and I can't wait.
Take Care
Pixie

[bethmullens]

hey
yes so far i havent had one either - its just not worth it, i have been tempted a few times but thought about all the risks!
I have my scan tomorrow i am quite nervous actually, fingers crossed everything will be ok!!!
Thanks all