Part 1:Nicotine effects on unborn baby formula opinion

Hello,  My cousin is almost three months pregnant and having a really hard time quiting her habit of smoking. She says she cut back but she really hasn't. She said the only effects would be a small baby, but thats an understatement!

[cutiemama]

I am not a doctor but I know a few generations back the belief was that the only side affect of smoking during pregnancy was a small baby. From what I've read, smoking can cause asthma, other respitory illnesses and even as tragic as certain childhood cancers. If she can't quit, try to encourage her to cut down as much as possible

[jifnif]

i think i have heard way worse than that.  I think its also premature birth and pulmonary problems not only in the newborn but in later stages of life as well.  its bad enough we smoke ( i dont but "we" meaning people) but to inflict that danger on an innocent baby is inhumane.  i used to smoke than i realized how stupid it was.  i want to be as healthy as i can be for me and my family.  you will not only save money...you will save your life. sorry, i am a little opinionated today.

[BlueBirdSchless]

I wasn't done there, I was fixing the title and pressed enter, so it was posted. Woops. Anyway. Title is Part 1: Nicotine effects on newborn baby and  Part 2: Formula opinion...            
Anyways, How can I encourage my cousin to stop smoking. Every one around her pretty much chain smokes.

Part 2: Formula Opinion,
    I was looking up info online lastnight to support breastfeeding because I know it will be very very hard for my cousin to do in her enviroment and I want her to know that it is worth all the hardships because of all the lipids and protiens and antibodies and closeness that cannot be reproduced into any formula. I came accross a forum like this one that brought up a contriversal subject:                         Should Formula be available by perscription only, for mothers who really need it, not just because they don't want to breastfeed for whatever reason or don't think they could do it. I thought that was an amazeing idea because many moms just give up because of the common rocky start. Some don't realize how awful formula is for a still developing baby. God made breastmilk to help your baby continue to develop after s/he is out of the womb. Formula is awful for babies not only because it lacks lipids and antibodies and nutrients causeing less development in the brain for the first year or two, but because it's loaded with some grose stuff. The response to this comment was pretty ghastly. Ohhh, some woman were huffin and puffin about there rights to choose. What do yall think?

[jifnif]

ohhh, sorry for jumping the gun.  I think its every woman's right.  Everything is starting to become a prescription.  Do you know they are trying to ban all supplements because they are not regulated by the FDA?  Just personally, i think we should have a choice.  I think they try to make formula as close as they can.  I will breast feed(hopefully) so this is just me speaking about choice.

[IWantToBeAMom]

I totally hear what you're saying but I don't think there's really anything you can do for her.  You can try to present her with medical articles and speak directly with her.  Beyond that there's really nothing you can do - it's her body and her baby.  

I wish you the best of luck with this because you sound genuinely concerned, but just remember that if you become too pushy and preachy your cousin might stop having these kinds of conversations with you altogether.

[BlueBirdSchless]

Thats exactly why I'm hesitant about saying much to her, when it comes to pregnacy and babies I have strong opinions, if ya hadn't noticed. So I got some info for her and wrote a letter full of facts and my opinions and basically told her to research for herself so she will be confident in her own opinions. I think if she really knew the risk she is taking she would have more ambition to quit. So I guess I'll send her that stuff and hope she doesn't hate me.

And the formula thing, I doubt that would ever happen in this country, I just want to hear opinions.

[cutiemama]

Of course it's every mother's choice to breastfeed or formula feed, but I'm with you bluebird on it being the optimal choice for feeding a baby. I really wasn't too comfortable with it but knew in my heart that my baby deserved the best food. I set a goal to do 6 weeks and then 3 months and then I went until 7 months because all the literature states how incredibly beneficial nuirsing is for babies. Perhaps if she reads all the info out there to support the benefits, then she'll make an educated decision.

[BlueBirdSchless]

So I take it your 3rd baby was okay though? Since you have 3 and one on the way. Smoking is a horrible habit! I quit smoking during the third month of my first pregnacy. My baby developed cycst on her brain. I developed a strong hatred for even the smell of cigarettes. I prayed so much that she would be okay. Around the 7th month the cysts disapered. I think God spared her from my rotten decisions. But that didn't teach me. Ive heard it said, 'once a smoker always a smoker.' Last year I got really depressed while my husband was training in the military, while I lived with his mother and my two children. I started fantsizeing about the old days when a simple cigarette would cure any mood. So I bought a pack and snuck out in the middle of the night like when I was a kid. But every time I tried to smoke I ended up with the worst strept throat and passed it to my kids. That happened three times before I gave up. Ug! It wouldn't have fixed my problem anyway, My body wasn't addicted anymore after three years, I glamorized it all in my head. Why should I put myself and now my kids through that? Basically my point is, for anyone who smokes period and knows they should quit, It's only like a few months of agony, and then it's over. Why let cigarettes control your life.

[IWantToBeAMom]

Yeah, good luck.  Maybe give her a small heads-up before you actually send it so that she understands you are being caring and not controlling.

And you're right about the formula issue.  That will never happen, not in a million years.

[gonza]

Good for you worrying about your cousin and her unborn baby's wellbeing.  As for smoking, it is best for her to quit obviously for herself and the baby.  But, her choice.  As for formula/breastfeeding, her choice.  The prescription formula, never gonna happen and should not happen.

[BEANIBEAR1967]

i wanted to breastfeed ds but he wouldn't take to the boob--then after 3 weeks of trying and pumping i just wasn't producing any milk--we ended up using simalac advance with iron and lipids--my ds is now almost 13 mo olds weighed in at 28.8 lbs at his last well check and is very happy and healthy despite not having been breast fed--i have a friend who formula fed both her children and there have been no adverse affects from not having breastfed--i believe this should be the parents choice-breastfeeding is the preferred choice but not the only choice.

[23andmomof4]

Smoking can do a lot to a baby I have 3 babys and one on the way and always smoke in my 3rd pregnancy the placenta riped from the ut wall and the number one cause is smoking and now I just started bleeding with my 4th

[mslkpage]

When the time comes, I will choose to breastfeed, but that's my choice.

Hope you're prepared for the can of worms you likely just opened up here.

[corykis okay]

Bluebird-All you can do is be supportive for your cousin Im sure with all the literature and stuff out there she knows what can affect the baby. I know its hard to support something you dont believe IN I know my SIL had a baby he was totally fine and NOT underweight by any means He weighed 9 lbs 3oz
Everything is about choice whether we believe it or not Just like the formula issue Its a womans choice to bottle feed or breast feed. What works for one person doesnt for another and vise versa

[BlueBirdSchless]

I agree, God has given us the right to make our own desisions since the begining of time. Doesn't make the wrong desision right. Anyway. My cousin is in a hard place because she lives in a very small town surrounded by alcoholics and drug addicts. My parents chose to get out of that enviroment to protect my sisters and I. My cousin has always wanted better than what she has, I just wanted to know how to confront her.  



    I should have put the formula opinion seperate from the smoking thing because your putting it together. Of course I want her to nurse, every baby deserves that. But I know I can't make desisions for her. Seperate from anything having to do with my cousin I just wanted to here opinions about formula by perscription only. But I think I got it. Every one wants choice even if they plan to nurse, the other option is there.