nicotine gum while pregnant?

[shaloxo]

I am 6 weeks pregnant and a smoker. I want to quit for my babys health but its not easy. Is it okay to chew nicotine gum to help quit? Will the gum affect the babys health?

[lisas9]

It is better to try to do it by yourself. Gum and patches etc still have a risk of harming your baby. If you really are finding it hard to stop, nicotine replacement is less harmful than cigarettes as they don't contain most of the harmful chemicals. Try without and if you are struggling then use nicotine replacement by try to get off of it as soon as possible.

[anacyde]

Yes.  It is possible to just quit, cold turkey.  I did!  It's been 9 years.

[nichole75315]

Talk to your doctor. I know there's stuff they can give you.

[Toriiee]

I found this.. hope it helps




"Pregnant women using nicotine patches and gum to help kick their smoking habit are harming their unborn babies, scientists claim.

They say the addictive substance is absorbed by the foetus and this can cause high blood pressure and heart problems later in life.

American researchers suspect that nicotine causes harmful chemicals to form in the babies’ blood vessels while they are still in the womb.

These chemicals, known as reactive oxygen species, permanently damage the blood vessels so they are unable to function properly, which can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems.

Women who smoke are strongly urged to give up during pregnancy as the cigarettes harm the baby putting them at much higher risk of cot death, being born premature, deformaties and illnesses in childhood.

Although doctors advise them to try and give up without nicotine patches or gum, many find it too difficult.

In the past packets of nicotine patches and chewing gum used to display warnings saying they should not be taken by pregnant women – along with those with heart, liver and kidney problems."