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smoking and pregnancy ok?

How many doctors would be able to tell me it is ok to smoke while pregnant since I have been a smoker prior to pregnancy for over 15 years and my body would have trouble adjusting to not smoking if I quit cold turkey?
21 Responses
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97615 tn?1212678589
its not about you when you become pregnant.  Its about your baby.  Not only is it in your best interest but in your baby's as well.  Not only can babies have low birth weight and breathing disorders it can effect them later in life as well.  talk to your dr and get help to stop now.
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134578 tn?1693250592
COMMUNITY LEADER
No doctors would tell you it is OK to smoke during pregnancy.  Quitting cold turkey is a million times better for your baby and for you than smoking.  Are you saying that you think because you might get cravings, etc. you should keep smoking?  You will definitely harm your baby if you smoke.
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Avatar universal
I quit cold turkey with all of my pregnancies. My 3 yr old developed RSV as an infant, even though I did not smoke with him (or even after I had him) -- I could not imagine how responsible I would feel if he continually had these breathing problems and I did not quit smoking. I already feel bad enough thinking that I smoked a few years before I got pregnant with him had something to do with it. The first time you are in the ER because your child is turning blue everytime he coughs.. then you will wish you'd have given it up for a few months... just something to think about. Good Luck! -J
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Avatar universal
I was told by a doctor that you just have to get through the first 3 days.  She said the nicotine will be out of your body in 3 days and after that your not having withdrawls it is  just a habit.
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Avatar universal
I agree--no doctor is going to say it's safe to smoke.  It can cause some serious damage to your baby's health.
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93532 tn?1349370450
I have never had a doc recommend cold turkey (between all of my pgs, I have seen a lot of docs!!), but rather a taper down method that eases you off the nicotine. The shock to the system by quitting cold turkey, especially for a heavy smoker, can cause some issues. The two pregnancies I quit cold turkey, I ended up losing, not that there was any connection, but that stuck with me mentally. Now I do the phasing/taper down method which involves first cutting down to the cigarettes that contain the lowest amount of nicotine (for instance, a camel wide had around 1.2 or 1.4 mg per cigarette) and dropping down gradually to say a camel ultra light 100 which contained 0.4 mg. Going straight from one to the other will only result in you smoking more of the ultra lights to make up for the nicotine. Going gradually helps prevent that. The second step, tapering, involves taking a day or two to count how many you smoke in a day. Then from there every few days you take one away. Also little habits like delaying your first one of the day, if you smoke in your car, cut that out, if you smoke after eating, try doing something else instead, etc. When you are able to cut down to 5 a day, quit then. From experience I know that if you go under 5, you start to fixate on those few and it makes it nearly impossible to quit completely.

I agree, no doc will tell you sdmoking is okay, but many will advise cutting back at the very least. I have used the methods in the past and my two boys were over 8 lbs and have had zero health issues related to smoking. The most important thing is to work hard at cutting back. Don't beat yourself up and don't let anyone else beat you up over this. Nicotine is an addiction almost like no other and unless you are the one struggling with it, you will never know what it is like. Even person to person the battle can be far different.

Andi

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Avatar universal
The only time I have ever quit smoking was when I found out I was pregnant. I had branded myself a life-long smoker. But having a fragile human life inside of you changes everything! It is no longer about YOU. There is nothing that justifies smoking while your pregnant. Just quit! Whenever you get a craving remember that your unborn child is more important. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
As awful as it is - I am counting the days until I can have that cigarette after this one is born.. I quit when I found out I was preg with my first one - cold turkey - did not start back after she was born.. stayed quit for another 2 1/2 years.. through my second pregnancy... never smoked.. then was at a party, and started back. When I found out I was preg again, I quit, but intend on starting again. I hope it tastes bad and makes me sick - that would be great.
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Avatar universal
Quitting is sooo hard usually, but it is very easy when you are pregnant. As long as you can beat the first few days (that is where you will be an emotional wreck and want to kill everything for looking at you) after that it becomes quite easy really! Besides, you will feel sooo much better. Just think about the benifits for your baby and yourself. Lower risk for heart disease, lung cancer, you will smell better, your skin will be softer and less wrinkles in the future, your baby will have a WAY lower risk of SIDS, heart problems, anxiety, A.D.D....and the list goes on and on. The "shock" will be nothing but a good one to your system. You cannot hurt yoursefl or your baby from quitting. If you do decide to quit cold turkey and you need some support, please feel free to use this forum and talk to me. I check it everyday. I will be your cheerleader4 if you need it. YOU CAN DO IT!!! I BELIEVE IN YOU:)
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Avatar universal
Another thing.. I guess all Dr's are different.. I work with a girl who said her Dr. told her it was ok for her to smoke pot in moderation, of course, while she was pregnant.. YEAH RIGHT!
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Avatar universal
i think the girl you work with must have been high when she said her dr. said it was okay to smoke pot in moderation while pregnant.
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Avatar universal
Seeing how bad smoking is for you now I don't think any doctor in his right mind would tell you it is ok to smoke while pregnant at least I would hope not - If you have a dr that tells you it is ok you need to find a new one.  It is so bad for you and the baby - QUIT - I know it is hard (I'm not a smoker - I've heard) but do it for you and your baby - You'll feel better and you'll be glad you did it
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Avatar universal
I don't want to come across as judgemental but knowing the side effects of smoking on your unborn child and continuing to smoke is pretty selfish to me.
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Avatar universal
Yeah.. that is what we said too!
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Avatar universal
Hey, firstly congratulations! Youve taken the first step which is getting help. And you obviously care alot for your baby or u wouldnt even bother ask. Just one question, would u give ur newborn a ciggie? Im sure not! But by smoking thats what u are in effect doing, which amongst other things can cause breathing probs. I dont smoke but hubby does and I think I must of been around it too much cos my lil one was 6 weeks early and got bronchiolitis and now has breathing probs which I think is to do with the smoking aswell.

Id say go cold turkey, the slower way of quitting like mentioned above is for those with less will power. Yes its an addition some say like an A class drug but the first thing u need is will power. Try ur best, think about ur lil baby. And No dont beat urself up but tell urself u can do it. Well all be ur supporters!!!!

YOU CAN DO IT SAY LIKE ON NUTTY PROF, YES I CAN! YES I CAN!

Good luck and let us know how u get on
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Avatar universal
taper down at first, but dont drag it out for months. quit completely as soon as your able. give yourself a few weeks if you need to, then stop. its hard but you can do it. its selfish not to.
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139902 tn?1189755822
I wouldn't think that a dr would say it's okay to smoke during pregnany either.

I think some use the taper off method as a crutch to not wanting to quit, but that's just my opinion. I understand that people need to ween, but so many women I know just stop.  Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture to get the motivation to quit. Good luck!

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Avatar universal
I know you think it might take a toll on you but think about your baby. Would you do drugs while pregnant?? No because you know that the baby will have withdrawals and could have other health issues. It is VERY much the same with smoking. I used to work in the nursery. Babies who developed under the influence of smoking, had more seizures AND withdrawals than babies of parents who smoked pot. Your child is more prone to sids and many other illnesses after they are born as their lungs cannot handle this. Please consider your child and it's health. Not only will it make the child healthier and give it a better chance at a better life, it will also make you healthier. I made my husband quit smoking on new years. His health has been better ever since, his color and he says he feels better than he has since before he started smoking.
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Avatar universal
... I quit drinking and smoking the night I found out I was pregnant. I'm 4 weeks postpardum and I'm still sticking to it.
I've started smoking and drinking at about 12-13 years old, and I am now 21. Honestly, it's no big deal.. your body wont go into shock unless you let it.
Your baby should be more important than a cigarett. Would you want your baby to have complications? Premature? Low birth weight? It dosnt happen 100% of the time, but it happens alot. Remimber, whatever you put inside your body, your baby gets traces of that too.
.... I am SO GLAD that now, cigaretts make me wanna puke. I smell them and I think it's the nastiest thing ever. I didnt think it was that noticeable before, but I can definately smell a smoker. I have lots of friends that have quit smoking when they got pregnant, and the only thing that started them up again was drinking.. Because smoking and alcohol come hand in hand.. No pun intended.

It's simply your choice, every doctor out there will advise against it. And at every doctors appointment they will ask if your still smoking and tisk tisk when you say yes.
That's how it's going to be. And it's purely your choice.


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Avatar universal
I agree with mertek that tailing off is like a crutch, it kinda keeps the idea going and I know Im not a smoker but I reckon it makes it harder. My dad is 66 and was smoking from about 12 or something young, and one day he just decided to stop, just like that cold turkey. He hasnt had one since about a year now. And that IS a long time to be smoking, so if he can stop, with no real reason except health, you can stop cos ur now a mother and are ur childs only protector right now. Use ur lil baby as a motivation, no its not gonna be easy but no its not gonna be hard, cos u know ur baby is the most important person in the world to you. Not to mention how much better u will feel, and how PROUD u and we will all be!

Come on, YES U CAN YES U CAN!! Come on girls, words of encouragement!!!
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Avatar universal
This is one hot button issue for me. I like beer and Malibu and orange juice. I would never ask if it is okay to still drink while pregnant. For me to drink would be intentionally harming my babies. I'm sure there are woman out there who drank after they knew they were pregnant and everything was fine but that doesn't mean it's oaky just because they got lucky. Smoking  while pregnant is making a conscious choice every cigarette to harm your baby. I admit I've never been a smoker and don't realize how bad the addiction can be but like other posters wrote, it's not about you anymore. Quitting smoking is the best thing for you and your baby. Starting up again after the baby and smoking around your children is also a irresponsible, selfish act. As parents it's our job to provide a safe and healthy environment for our children and putting poison in their lungs doesn't fall in those categories. There's enough **** outside the safety of their own homes to worry about. Sorry but when I hear of people hurting the defenseless it gets me all worked up.   PLEASE, PLEASE, QUIT!
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