Curious

[Amichelle1997]

Does or has anyone smoked while pregnant ? I stopped the minute I found out I was pregnant but they were my stress relief! And I've been fennen for one. I don't plan on smoking my whole pregnancy but I really have been thinking of getting a pack and smoking just when I'm really stressed , what's the risk for the baby ? I couldn't ever  hurt my little one but I know people who smoked their whole pregnancy and their baby's were fine !

[beauty1229]

You become addicted by choice

[maw4389]

Amichelle, if you give in and have 1 cigarette here and there for stress relief, it's not the end of the world, even though several people will make it seem like it is. It's not ideal, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.

[AnnieBrooke]

Some get lucky and some don't, and some quit so they don't need to rely on luck.  They can rely on luck and on what medical science has learned.

[Amichelle1997]

Thanks yall! But I guess it just comes down to the person . Some get lucky some dont.

[Buzzbeemommy]

Would it be worth the risk of harming your unborn baby? I know thousands of women do it and have healthy children but I suggest you research the effects smoking HAS had on the percentage of babies who aren't as lucky. I agree one here and there is not so bad maybe and if that helps keep the beast of addiction at bay, go for it I guess but you should definitely weight out the risk vs benefits of the decision to do so. It's hard, I know. I struggled with it my first pregnancy and my son was born 5 pounds and needed help breathing his first day of life, I'll always blame that on the cigarettes but some would argue there's no proof that was the cause. Either way, do the best you can to at least keep it to a minimum.  

[kfrancis94]

I smoked threw my whole first pregnancy, but I craved them just like pregnant girls craved food. Now my second pregnancy I do smoke, BUT only when I smell someone else smoking and I can't help it, I take a puff or three and I'm done. My first daughter was 7lb 12oz, and now she's almost two and healthy as can be. My mom smoked with me and my brothers and we were all over 8lbs. I HATE smoking, especially pregnant but it is an addiction. When my second baby gets here I'm done smoking. Try and stay away if possible it's not worth it

[sassy_sam]

Just a thought you might like to consider... I smoked my entire first pregnancy and had a very big healthy baby boy who is now 3 and still healthy. However during my second pregnancy I quit as soon as I found out and soon thereafter miscarried. I was so grateful to know that it was not because I continued to smoke that I lost my twins. When I was pregnant for the third time I also never smoked and now have a big healthy baby girl. So try your best to continue to keep up the good work because on the offside is something terrible were to happen, you would never forgive yourself. You would always say, was it worth it?

[auntbee79]

Try to hang on there. It is true that smoking can cause problems for your unborn child, but you can get lucky and it not. I have never been a smoker, but my mother smoked with all of us when she was pregnant. Out of 6 kids we all have severe allergies and 2 or 3 of us have asthma. In the long run you may be a healthier person and be able to enjoy your baby more if you don't smoke again.

[sunshine6615]

Smoking weed is less dangerous than a cancer causing stick. I quit and I'm not turning back. Just because "some babies are fine" doesn't mean yours will be. My best friend had a baby with low birth weight due to smoking and it seems like she is always sick. Even now that she's a year old. My sister smoked and her baby wheezes.. but they also smoke in the house. Do what's best for you and the baby, don't cave in. You're strong and can do anything if you believe in yourself

[AnnieBrooke]

Nadia, RockRose was telling you what medical science has found.  I don't think all the medical discoveries possible in the world have yet been made (including why some people have far worse consequences from smoking than do others), but I do think the medical evidence on smoking when pregnant is pretty firmly proven.  The overall numbers show it affects the baby negatively.

Everyone knows someone that beats the odds.  When a pet bad habit comes up in conversation, someone always tells the story of grandpa who smoked, drank, ate a high-cholesterol diet and lots of sweets, and lived to be 90.  Does that mean it's a great idea to do those things?  No.  It just means that grandpa was one of the minority of people who didn't apparently get harmed by his habits.  (Or at least, as much as anyone could prove:  perhaps he had been fated to live to 115 if he had not smoked.)  Does it mean that because this happened for grandpa, we should all justify our own bad habits?  No, it's time to stop for our own sake.  We don't know if we're one who beats the odds naturally or will fall victim to them.  And it is something we can quit.

Even second-hand smoke can cause SIDS, even when the parent does not smoke around the baby.  It's just not worth the risk.

[dianaexoh]

If you've already stopped, I'd stick with it. The hard part is finding that motivation, and as a former smoker, I promise you that it gets way easier over time! You've got this, mama.

[NadiaKruger]

So Amichelle, don't feel bad if you give into a cigarette once in a while, no one is perfect. Life is stressful, and being pregnant already makes it worse. Of course you want to think about the health of your baby, but don't let people get you down if you had a cigarette. It's not like you're using drugs or smoking weed.

[NadiaKruger]

In fact RockRose, I'm not attacking you but I feel like I have to tell you my experience as you're bringing up these "facts". My mother never had any small babies, all of her babies were over the 8.5 lbs and my cousin which also smoked during her pregnancy, her daughter was 9.2 lbs. My daughter which was born at 38weeks 3days was 5.2 lbs and I stopped smoking in the first trimester and never touched a cigarette again. So how to you explain that?

[collinsmumma]

I agree with AnnieBrooke. The risk isn't worth it, in my opinion.

[RockRose]

Here's the problem with smoking and pregnancy.

Nicotine shrinks blood vessels.  So that means,  the vessels in your placenta will be smaller than the vessels in a nonsmoker's placenta,  meaning your baby will be receiving less nutrition,  and less oxygen.  While it's true that most babies born to smokers are healthy - but smaller - the fact is they didn't get optimal nutrition and oxygen.

The worst thing about not being able to stop smoking in pregnancy is that means you can't stop smoking - and you continue to smoke when the baby is born,  breathing in second hand smoke.  So trying to reduce smoking temporarily while you are pregnant doesn't really help the baby - if you intend to pick smoking back up when your baby is born.  

Even if you keep smoking outside the house.

[AnnieBrooke]

I think, like any addiction, of course it will seem to relieve your stress when you go back to the thing that has you addicted.  When one quits, one misses it.  But when it is something with as serious of consequences for the baby as smoking, I would try to find the fortitude to turn away from the cravings.

[NadiaKruger]

Hi Amichelle. I don't think luck has anything to do with this. My mother smoked through out all of her pregnancies, me and my three brothers are just fine,  had and still haven't had any asthma problems at all. My aunt smoked through out her first pregnancy too and her son was fine, her second she stopped because she felt sick from it and her 2nd son has bad asthma till this day and he's already 29. I would've definitely not stopped if it wasn't for getting nauseous from the smell and taste. I haven't started smoking again ever since I was 9 weeks pregnant and my daughter is already 6 months old, but damn I seriously crave it now and desperately want a smoke. My husband has been great for supporting me, but I truly believe it is a stress reliever and that's why I've been stressed out so much. I say, if you want to smoke a cigarette once in a while, go for it!  At the end the stress will be more harmful to the baby. And good luck!

[froggy01]

I did! As soon as I found out, I quit. That's the best thing for baby, she's seven months old now and I still haven't had one. You've already done the hardest part by making the decision to stop, stick with it. Your friends baby may be fine but that's luck, not guarantee. The risks are increased for sudden infant death, asthma, underweight, premature birth. Stay strong!