HELP ME Seeking Advice for Pregnant Me Tryn to Quit SMOKIN CIGS

I suggest going with the food replacement and try to snack on healthy foods. If you gain extra weight, at least this is the time for it and you have an excuse. It's better to gain weight than to smoke while pregnant.

I smoked for 15 years and tried to quit a million times but finally i read a book by Allen Carr - on How to quit smoking and i have done it - i have not smoked for almost a year now and am pregnant.

The only true thing that works to quit smoking is the DESIRE TO QUIT! I smoked for 14 years and quit when I found out I was pregnant because I didn't want to harm my child. No gimmicks, just will power and thinking about my son's health.

Hi J.:
Well,believe it or not, your pregnancy is a gods-send. You won't only be helping your baby,but your own future health and well being.Alot depends on how long you've been a smoker. The longer you've smoked the more difficult it will be to quit.When I got pregnant with my first son, I had to quit as well.I had been a smoker for 4 years. The way I quit,was I had my hubby leave me 10 cigs. for the day. I had to ration and make them last the entire day. after a few days, I had him leave me 5 cigs for the entire day. I learned to ration those.I couldn't just grab one when ever,and this helped alot. after a week or so, I had him leave me only two a day,and when I got to that point, I thought to myself."How stupid!! If I can go a whole day only needing two cigs. Then why do I need them at all?? I actually stopped! Knowing what harm it would do to my baby really was my motivation,but cutting myself down a little each day really helped.I hope you try this,and succeed.My sons were born wonderfully healthy,and I was an (Energizer Mommy)The best to you and your baby,who will change your life forever. J.

Ohhh, I feel for you. It's not easy during the first few weeks of trying to quit because of the physical and psychological dependence. I quit smoking cigarettes almost 9-years ago. That was my 2nd time quitting and luckily it stuck. Here's some things that helped me during the first few weeks of detox and beyond:

#1 IT'S ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE AND THE MESSAGES YOU TELL YOURSELF. Now is the time to empower yourself with positive thoughts like, "I'm stronger than this addiction (or a cigarette)," "I am a non-smoker," and "I am a powerful person who can make great things happen in my life." You get the idea . . . Find out whatever personal statements resonant with you and make you feel empowered, and then start staturating your world with them. Say them over and over, especially when you are feeling a craving. Post the sayings all over the house so that you can see them often. Or write them down in a journal over and over again until one of your white knuckle periods stop. Also write down all of the reasons you want to quit on individual post-its and post them all over the house. It's good to have constant reminders of why you are doing this for yourself.

#2 YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO CHANGE YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE SO THAT YOU ARE NOT HANGING OUT IN PLACE OR WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU USUALLY SMOKE WITH. There's no going about it any other way. You need to shake up your world and create new, healthier patterns for yourself (places to go, people to talk to) that don't include smoking and a social/recreational activity. You can't do what you've been doing and think that you'll be able to stick to your convictions of not smoking. Be a friend to yourself and don't set yourself up for failure.

#3 FIND PHYSICAL THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO THAT CAN REPLACE THE HAND-TO-MOUTH (SMOKING) HABIT AND THAT CAN GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO DO WHEN THE URGE HITS. I didn't realize it but smoke involves a lot of habits that need to be broken or reworked. There's the nicotine habit, the social habit, and the stress-relief habit, and there's the hand-to-mouth habit. What worked for me was constantly carrying a pencil, straw or sugar free lollypop in my fingers for a few weeks there and eventually fading those habits once I got over the worst part of my physical detox.

#4 STARTING RIGHT NOW, LIST THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT ARE PHYSICAL OR THAT DON'T ALLOW YOU TO SMOKE WHILE YOU ARE ENGAGED IN THAT ACTIVITY. You need to find other ways to relieve your stress and redirect your attention when the cravings start. Some suggestions: Writing in a journal, diving into a craft project, working out with dumbells, doing some yoga poses, writing an e-mail to a friend, work on those photo albums that you've been meaning to work on for the longest time now. The point is that you want to prepare this list when you are somewhat calm so that you can have it available when a craving hits. Sometimes you just can't think straight when you are in the middle of a strong craving.

#5 KNOW THAT THE WORST OF YOUR NICOTINE WITHDRAW WILL ONLY LAST FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. At least this was the case for me. After that period, I did have cravings but they were more annoying if anything and were easier to redirect and as time passed, the cravings became less intense and frequent until I got to the point that they no longer exist. Just keep in mind that how you feel now is not how you will feel 2 weeks from now, 6-weeks, 3-months from now. Hang in there. There is an end to the physical discomfort you are feeling now.

#6 LASTLY, YOU ARE ADDICTED TO NICOTINE SO DON'T KID YOURSELF TO BELIEVE THAT AT ANYTIME HEREAFTER YOU CAN HAVE JUST ONE. If you were able to regulate your smoking like some people are, you wouldn't be going through this process now. Your body reacts to nicotine in a very strong, immediate and excessive way. The same can be said of how smoking affects your social and mental health as well. You will never be able to be a social smoker because that is not how your body works. The sooner you own this, the less likely you are to relapse.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, good for you for deciding to quit smoking. It is a filthy, dirty habit and there is no way that you and your baby can live a healthy long life as long as you are smoking.

You just have to "suck it up" for the baby. Quitting smoking is not at all easy and I quit so I could get pregnant and put on 15 pounds but the docs told me that it's better than the 80+ lbs strain on the heart and body and the damage to the baby. When I quit smoking, I ate a lot of beef jerky because it kept my mouth busy chewing and ate a lot of carrot and celery sticks. Most smokers end a meal with a cigarette so replace that with eating celery pieces because it has almost negative value in regards to nutrition and keeps your mouth busy and if you don't work add in playing a game of solitaire while you eat the celery and take deep cleansing breaths. Best wishes and remember it's mind of matter.

Dear J.,

Have you thought about a class or hypnotism ? Why not, it won't hurt the baby. ...also, water, lots of water. C. N.

This may sound harsh, so I'm sorry about that - BUT, you are going to be a parent so the first lesson you need to learn is that it is no longer about you. Simply think about your child and QUIT. Cold turkey. Today. And don't say it can't be done - I did it, so can you. Make the decision and do it.

I J., I just want to tell you that I am proud of you for wanting to stop smoking. Some people really don't care and will keep smoking while they are pregnant and I feel so bad for that little one inside of them that doesn't have a choice. They can't tell you no and they are so little and not even developed yet and they are getting all the toxins from the cigs. I really don't have any advice on how to stop but I thank you for thinking of your little one. Good Luck and God Bless you and your little one!

words from my sister . she became p.g. for the 1st time at 37...i copied her words for you...it was hard for me, all i can say is i loved olivia more than i loved smoking. and she can smoke after she has the baby if she really feels the need to but she can't undo the possible harm she could cause her baby. unfortunately she has to do it cold turkey, there is nothing she can take. i heard black licorice works. oh and i would try celery mostly because it is refreshing and full of water.

I'm not a smoker but I am a nurse. You may have to discuss this issue with your doctor. Smoking does cause birth defects and miscarriages. Also low birth weight. I know it may be very difficult to stop smoking especially now but you have to think about the little miracle that is developing every minute of the day. Try seeking some counselling thru your health insurance group. Sometimes they have groups or classes you can take to help you stop smoking. Good Luck !!!!

STOP SMOKING NOW!!!!! THOSE PEOPLE TELLING YOU IT'S OK TO KEEP SMOKING BECAUSE IT IS TO HARD TO QUIT OR HOW THEY SMOKED AND THEIR BABY IS A SUPER HUMAN HEALTHY BABY ARE PURE EVIL!!!! DON'T STOP BECAUSE YOU WILL PUT STRESS ON THE BABY??!?!?!? EVIL!!! THAT IS BEYOND CRAZY!!!!! PLEASE STOP!

Can Quitting Cold Turkey Harm My Baby?
There is no evidence to support the claim that quitting cold turkey could harm the fetus. On the contrary, every cigarette delivers many chemical agents that put the baby under stress. In particular, carbon monoxide displaces oxygen from red blood cells and makes it harder for the blood cells to release oxygen. This badly affects the transfer of oxygen from the mother’s blood to the baby’s blood across the placenta.

Tobacco smoke has very high levels of oxidizing chemicals which upset important processes in the umbilical cord, constricting it. Their actions also impair the production of the membrane around the baby.

Smokers have more viscous (thicker and stickier) blood than non-smokers, which is a risk factor for stroke in the newborn as well as for blood clots (thrombosis) in the placenta. When the mother quits smoking, the level of carbon monoxide drops quickly and is much lower after only a day, and her blood improves over the next several weeks.

Smoking results in retarded growth of the fetus and subsequently low birth weight. Low birth weight may have a lasting effect of the growth and development of the child. It is associated with an increased risk for early puberty, and in adulthood an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Women who quit early in their pregnancy have babies with birth weights similar to non-smokers.

Women who quit smoking during pregnancy reduce the risk reduce the risk of preterm membrane rupture, preterm delivery and low birth weight.

In general, quitting without using quitting aids (nicotine replacement therapy) is preferred. This means first options are quitting suddenly or cutting down over one to two weeks and then quitting.

At the moment, there is nothing to recommend one method over the other, although quitting suddenly is more popular. Withdrawal symptoms might cause some emotional stress to the mother, which for most people is worse in the first week, but they decrease over time and usually do not last more than a few weeks. However, continued smoking puts the bodies of both mother and child under physical stress. All the evidence points to quitting smoking being one of the most important ways to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Complications in the Child

The effects of smoking during pregnancy on a child can be assigned into four categories. The four categories are size, genetic abnormalities, illnesses possibly developed later in childhood, and death.

The size of the newborn is greatly altered due to smoking for two reasons. The first of the two is preterm delivery. Second, the size is altered because rather than nutrients crossing the placenta, chemicals such as nicotine and carbon monoxide reach the baby. Without the nutrients, the baby is often underweight, which increase his or her chances of becoming ill.

The effects of smoking during pregnancy can also cause genetic abnormalities. The abnormalities can be cleft lip and cleft palate. Also, bowel problems can be experienced. Abnormalities can also occur in sensory systems such as the eyes and ears. More severe consequences are also seen. These include spinal cord problems, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation.

Consequences can also develop later in childhood. In early childhood, respiratory problems, such as asthma, can be seen. Also, behavior disorders often times develop in toddlers. Other consequences can be seen in adolescents, which include increased likelihood of smoking themselves. The worst consequence of the effects of smoking during pregnancy is sudden infant death syndrome, which is also known as SIDS.

The effects of smoking during pregnancy is a major issue that women, men, parents, and children have to deal with. These effects not only touch the lives of mothers and the fetus but the newborn baby, toddler, and then the teenager in the future, with possible problems as an adult.

P.S. I was a smoker till the minute I found out I was prego in 2002....I smoked for over 10yrs. I quit cold turkey.

Hi J.,
I'm not going to down-play it. It's hard. I was taking Welbutrin in anticipation of trying to get pregnant and wanting to quit smoking before it actually happened. The suprise came when we managed it on the first try and suddenly there I was, pregnant and hadn't actually stopped yet. My ob told me I could continue the Welbutrin while pregnant, but I didn't like the idea of taking "unneccesary" drugs, so I stopped and tried to quit on my own. Every time I wanted a cigarette, I would tell myself that God forbid something turned out to be wrong with my child, I didn't want to spend the rest of my life second-guessing that one cigarette and whether it contributed to his problems. He turned out fine and I can rest assured I did everything in my power to make that happen. Best of luck... I know how tough it can be.

Hi J., good for you for reaching out for support. So many of us here have been there and we know how hard it is. I know you probably don't believe that you can actually do it and stay quit, but I am here to tell you that YES YOU CAN!!!! I never thought I could do it but amazingly, I have been smoke free since I found out I was pregnant in 2001. I was a pack a day smoker for 14 yrs prior to that. It took several years for me to make the neccesary lifestyle adjustments to support being quit - what i mean is, just because I quit the physical act of smoking, I still was not living a healthy lifestyle because I didn't have the tools/skills/experience/knowledge to replace the smoking behaviour with something healhty to manage stress. For a few years, I would just fly off the handle and yell whenever I felt stressed, and that included yelling at my son (not when he was a baby, but certainly when he was 1 1/2 and 2, and going thru the 'terrible 2's'). Luckily, I never hit him or anything, but I felt awful for the yelling and lack of control. Anyway, my point here is to say that I stuck with it and got anger management counseling and thru it all, I forced myself not to pick up the habit again even though the self loathing and guilt was eating me alive. Now it is 7 years later and I am healthier than ever, able to manage stress and still smoke free. My son is a very happy, well adjusted 6 year old now, by the way (and, mommy is happy too!) Several people here have done a great job of listing the important tools you'll need - have a strong support system (spouse/significant other is most important), stay away from smokers, replace the physical and emotional behaviour with healthy behaviours (need to learn how to do this from counselors or other non-smokers), and above all, just keep your baby in the forefront of your mind and take it one minute/hour/day at a time. YOU CAN DO IT and even if you slip up here or there, just focus on getting back on track; don't just go 'oh, screw it' and fall back off the wagon. It's sooooooooo hard, I know, but with time it will get easier and you will be thankful in the long run that you did it. One of the most helpful things I did at the beginning is to use telephone support - the one I used was 1-800-NO-BUTTS. Not sure if that number is still in use or not but I am sure your doctor can put you in touch with someone. Best of luck and hang in there, you can do it!
-Suzi

J.,
First of all, congratulations and good for you for quiting for your child. It's truly a gift of health that you'll be giving him/her by not smoking. There are lots of tips for quitting on line. Try http://www.smokefree.gov/. There is also a quit line where you get resources and help from a real person by phone. The number here is 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Good luck!!

i can deffinately relate better to valerie better than anyone. with my first 3 kids i didnt smoke at all during my pregnancies but since them i became a heavy smoker and especially when me and my ex seperated and dealing with his jealousy when i got with someone new...i then ended up pregnant again and i had so much stress on my plate and i honestly did try to quit smoking but everytime i tried something came up that would stress me out and well...you know what happens when you get stressed, gotta have that smoke. well throughout my whole pregnancy i smoked, my daughter was born extremely healthy though she was a 5 pounder i did get a lot of slack from a few people...until i explained that both me and the father were also 5 pounders, then they were like oh ok. yes my mom did smoke with me as well as my 3 siblings but i was the only one under weight and it was due to her not drinking enough fluids. my boyfriend who was also a 5 pounder...his mom never smoked.
right now i am 5 months pregnant and sadly i am still smoking...i know its not ok and i keep trying to quit but it is hard.
here is a tip for you if you arent able to quit smoking and you get tired of people judging you...just tell them that while smoking may contribute to possible birth defects, let them know that so can anything else...cars release carbon monoxide, gas fumes when filling the tank, cleaners, hair sprays, nail polish and several other things that people inhale daily and dont think about. not to mention i have heard that sometimes just quitting smoking cold turkey can be just as damaging...cuz stress is unhealthy during pregnancy. the best and safest way to quit smoking is by reduction...though i have tried that and when i ran out...i too would scrounge around looking for butts with anything left on them, lol.
either way...just try and should you fail...just tell yourself "hey...at least i tried" dont let anyone drag you down and make you feel guilt...cuz that kind of feeling goes to the baby as well. the less stress for you the better.

good luck and let me know how it goes.

J.,
Don't quit - keep smoking. And when your baby is born with a birth defect and can't come home maybe then you might be motivated to stop.
I don't know what else to tell you. I know it's harsh, but that could be your reality.
Or you can get past your own need for the need of your child. Trying your best to make sure that they get all the best you have to offer.

You have alot of great advice!! I have been a non smoker since I got pregnant with baby #1 and she is now 9!! I walked ALOT and I learned to make quilts to keep my hands busy. I also tried to stay away from things that I did associate with a smoke, like stepping outside after a meal, I did ALOT of dishes and cleaning right after I ate. The biggest shock of all was that after the first 5-7 days it wasnt so bad, the withdrawls went away and I had a great hobby of making blankets, but after I had her it seemed that all I wanted was another smoke, so NOT starting back up was almost harder then stopping the first time. You will get thru this and have a healthy baby as a reward, and the other thing I did was all the money that I was spending on smokes went into a saving account for my daughter, that added up fast and I had more then enough to get her crib, dresser and her changing table at the end of my pregnancy. GOOD LUCK and congrats on you little miracle!

I smoked for 10 years when I found out I was pregnant. I did the "ration" thing too, only I told myself that I would not buy cigarettes pregnant. Whatever I had in that last pack, that was it. Finally I was down to my last cigarette. I did crave them and I would hold out telling myself I COULD have that last cigarette, but what if I needed it more the next time and it wasn't there? I just rode out each craving and kept busy for like 20 minutes. I carried that last cigarette around for about 6 months. I did chew gum (spearimint gum helped with the nausea feeling) . I'm not going to lie, I do still crave it (my son is 7 months old now) because I didn't quit for me, but I just don't have time to smoke, not that I should or will (I hope). Oh, good luck. It was actually pretty easy to do. Just get your mind around it.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Quitting smoking is a great step towards mothering. It can be difficult to do by yourself. I would suggest joining a support group. Having a reason to quit...like for your baby, is a huge motivator. You have that going for you.

Best Wishes
S.
www.shastamidwives.com

I know it's hard but just try to focus on the baby and the importance of being healthy these next 9 months. Here are some silly and creative ideas but cold turkey is the best way in my honest opinion.

1) glue an ultrasound picture on the pack of cigs as soon as you buy them.

2) Throw away 10 cigarettes as soon as your buy the pack.

3) hmm..since you probably haven't had an ultrasound yet - take a picture of your dipstick with the 2 lines and glue those on your cigarettes.

4)Put a quarter in a glass jar for every cigarette you do have. The money will hopefully not add up that fast but you'll realize how much money you are wasting that could be saved for your little on.

5) Ask your doctor for help

6) Ask your family or friends or smoking "buddies" to help you by not smoking around you.

7) Research the effects of smoking on the fetus online.

8) Take a visit to Children's Hospital - it's truly heartbreaking when your little one is in the NICU.

Hope these help. Just stay positive and remember that it takes time but habits CAN be broken.

It appears you have much advice already. I just wanted to encourage you to keep trying, keep going day by day. Definitely talk with your doctor. This is terribly hard; there are few drugs more addicting than cigarettes. When you reach your goal pat yourself on the back. Quitting smoking is a wonderful accomplishment.

Quitting is NOT for you. (I went through the same thing when I was preg w/my 2nd.)

For 9 months, you can tolerate and deal with anything for your child who will have to tolerate and deal in utero with the decisions you make for a life time.

I smoked up to 2pks a day until I found out I was expecting. Quit until I finished nursing, and then picked up the nasty habit again.

Go for a walk, make cheese sticks from scratch, start crocheting, give yourself a pedicure, start painting, start sculpting... anything healthy. Create a list of things to do when you have that nicotine fit!

Ask your Dr about Welbutrin. I think I spelled it wrong. No drugs are good for your growing baby but it may be better than cigs. I also was a smoker when I found out I was prego. I started taking it because I am a LOONY without cigeretts. It works! I was amazed how it took away my craving all together. Stopping smoking is so important to your baby and I know it's really hard but it is worth it. You can do it. Don't let feeling guilty stress you out so you end up smoking more. See your doc for help and find other supportive moms. Lots of us have been thru it!

There is a technique called the Emotional Freedom Technique "EFT" for short. Basically you tap gently on a series of meridan points around the face and body. It is extremely successful with both getting rid of the immediate urge for a cigarette and for working on the underlying reason you smoke in the first place. You can download the instructions FOR FREE at: www.emofree.com where you can also see a video and lots of case stories of all the amazing ways this incredible tool can be used.

It is also great for stress.

Best of luck and congratulations!

This is just the first in a long line of things you'll have to do that you may not want to, but must do for the greater good of your child.

I know it's hard - I was a smoker when I became pregnant. I don't believe food or gum or drugs or anything like that really works.
You have to WANT to quit, and then you just DO it.
Every time you reach for a cigarette think of your sweet baby who needs lots of oxygen to be healthy, strong, and grow properly, and whose tiny growing body cannot handle all those carcinogens.

For the record I tried to quit many times and always went back - pregnancy was the only thing that worked. Now that I have a beautiful, healthy daughter the thought of smoking is no longer attractive (although sometimes I enjoy the smell when I am around smokers).
I tried to keep my pregnancy and childbirth as "natural" as possible, so reading all of the nutrition books and natural childbirth books really helped me get through it.

Also my husband was a smoker and he quit with me. I hate to say this but he is normally kind of inconsiderate so I was shocked that he was willing to quit to be supportive of me during my pregnancy. (Thank goodness he did that because otherwise he was a pain in the butt throughout!) Anyway that was a huge help because there were no cigarettes in the house and no smoke odors.

I wish I had some better advice for you. All I can say is you will have to make so many concessions and become completely unselfish for your baby, so this is a good start.
I am sorry if this comes off as harsh because it looks like you've already taken some heat here. However I think maybe even though it isn't a great way to do things, guilt will be your best motivator.

My advice - Take that $5 a pack per day you would normally spend on cigarettes and put it in a savings account for your baby! When you see how much you've saved after 9 months you will thank yourself and your baby will too by being healthy and free from all birth defects that smoking can cause. I quit after 2 weeks of finding out I was pregnant and I smoked a pack a day. I slowly weaned myself by smoking less and less each day. Was is hard? Absolutely, but there was NO way that I was going to let my child suffer for my stupidity. You will not die without a cigarette, but your baby might be harmed for life with it! Sorry for being so blunt, but when it comes to this there is NO other choice! Is your habit really worth risking your childs health? Good luck!!

Hello, J.,

Thank you for having the courage to reach out and ask for help.

I am a nutrition coach and work with some very special food formulas. One is to nourish the adrenals and the pancreas-- the 'side effect' for many happens to be losing the taste for smoking.

Let me know if you would like to know more.

My very best to you,

T.

You just have to put your mind to it and you really can do anything. I speak from experience when I say this. I smoked for 20 YEARS!! I found out I was preggo with my daughter when I was only 3 weeks along. I thank God for that everyday. I quit cold turkey, well pretty much. I gave myself two smokes and said when they are gone I am done. I could not even smoke those without feeling guilty. Don't get me wrong it was not easy, but neither is raising a healthy child. That is what you have to do when you are a mommy and it starts from conception. Just remind yourself of the gift you have been given and don't dwell on the thought of smoking, it really is that simple. You can quit and put yourself through hell, or you can just make the decision not to smoke and then don't! It really is that easy. : ) Distract yourself mentally when you think about it. Just tell yourself why you don't want to have one and move on to something else. I can happily say this is what I did and now by daughter is almost nine months old and I don't event think about smokes anymore. I am still amazed that I did it because I had tried quitting 10 times before and just could not do it. An amazing motivation is right inside you, you will see. Please do this for your child, it will be paid back to you 1000 times over when your baby is born healthy, I promise you! If you need to talk feel free to send me a messge and I will give you my #. Sorry if people have been rude to you, some people lack communication skills. I truly understand how hard you may think it is, but when you put it out of your mind you will be amazed. I was, well still am, so proud of myself. Don't listen to the negative just do this for yourself and your baby. Oh and can I just tell you how much money you will save??? Try putting the money you would have spent on smokes in a jar and you can buy yourself something nice. Maybe parfum or something since you won't be stinky anymore. : ) Good luck mama and CONGRATS on being a mom and a non-smoker. ((((()))))) You will need these for support over the next few days. Oh and tell everyone you know you are quitting so they hold you accountable. One last thing when I put my mind to it the cravings were completely gone within two weeks, I can't even stand the smell anymore. YOU HATE SMOKING, WHAT HAS IT EVER DONE FOR YOU! Okay, I'm done. LOL Good luck.

Imagine a continous, slow, painful grip of someone choaking you 24 hours a day and you having no control over them stopping. Imagine twenty years from now, you gain control and can free yourself from that grip, only to realize that it has caused you chronic pain and illness for the rest of your life. Imagine, your mother observing this behavior your entire life, no arranging this situation!!! NOW TELL ME YOU"RE TRYING TO QUIT!! Smoking while pregnant or in the presence of a born child is ABUSE!!!!!!!!! QUIT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm not going to sugar coat this: you must know that evidence has shown that cigarette smoking causes birth defects. if this isn't enough for you to stop smoking, i don't know what else to tell you.
please stop smoking... if you can't do it for your innocent baby, then do it for yourself.
i just lost my father to lung cancer.. he, of course, was a smoker.
find your inner strength, and JUST STOP! i quit cold turkey years ago, and it was the best thing i ever did.
good luck.

I'm not normally as direct and would usually add a few warm and fuzzy's......but, I'm an x-smoker - 50 years old proud mom of 4 (two of which are 2 year old twins). I was a smoker at 21, got pregnant & quit during pregnancy. Started smoking again after birth of baby......got pregnant at 26, quit smoking & told myself I'd never light up again. To say the least, my son was about 1 yr. old & I started again. I finally quit COLD TURKEY over 15-20 years ago. I tried hypnosis (not sure if you can while pregnant). I didn't quit with it....but about 6 months later when I finally decided to quit cold turkey, I realized some of what I learned in the hypnosis same through & helped me. With that history being said........ There are no ifs ands or buts about it! You don't have a choice. You MUST quit STARTING RIGHT NOW. When you made the decision to be a mom, you made the CHOICE to become a parent which includes making choices for your baby - it's not healthy for an unborn child to be growing & building brains, lungs, kidney's, etc. while you are puffing away. You have got to be ignoring all of the media pertaining to how unhealthy it is to smoke.....let alone while pregnant. I can tell you, because I don't know you, you will look very stupid when you start showing & you're puffing away - the majority of us know how dangerous that is & you will lose all respect from anyone that matters. You have got to feel guilty every time you inhale - if you don't, then maybe you shouldn't be keeping this baby because you are already telling it that he/she isn't your priority & this is the first of many bad choices. I've been there done that.....I'm telling you - QUIT. Call your OB/GYN, ask them if they can help you, if there is anything you can take to ease your withdrawls while you are pregnant....but in the meantime.....rather than holding a cigarette - hold a bottle of water & just keep drinking water. 3 days of misery (which is what it normally takes for the hard part), will be paid of with the rest of a wonderful, healthy....full termed pregnancy. Wouldn't you feel terrible if you went pre-term & had a baby that didn't make it...... I'm sure there are a lot of fools out there that will tell you they smoked while pregnant & every thing worked out......imagine you being a part of the statistics where everything didn't go right. Be strong & make the choice to be the best parent you can be. Good luck & great start just by asking for some advice!

My brother-in-law had success with hypnotherapy, and I've known others who've had great success with the nicotine patch and nicotine gum, although I don't know if it's safe to use while pregnant. Talk to your OB/GYN or family doctor.

Hi J.,

Wow, there is a lot of passion out there on this topic. Everyone seems to have a piece of advice for you even the ones who have never smoked. "Just stop because it will prove how much you love your baby." Anyone who has had an addiction knows that isn't the case. I know they mean well but....

What you need is some practical advice so here it is. And yes, I'm an ex-smoker. The first thing you have to ask yourself is if you really want to quit. If you don't then nothing you try will work. So if your answer is yes then you need to see your doctor. Ask him for a prescription for Zyban (make sure it's ok with being pregnant) and a prescription for Nicotrol. Start taking the Zyban about 1 month before your quit date. This will help take away the desire to smoke. In the mean time begin cutting back on your smoking. Try to smoke 1 less tomorrow then you did today. Also try smoking less of the cigarette than usual. Sometimes I would light the same cigarette 3 times because I would only smoke a small portion - just until the cravings were gone. I got down to 6 cigarettes and figured if I could survive on 6 then I could survive on zero. The next step is very important and I think would work even without the prescriptions. Go someplace that you can't smoke. Take a cruise or go to Disneyland etc. anywhere where smoking is difficult to do. You will be kept very busy and won't have time to think about smoking. It wont be easy but it's a lot easier then sitting around the house doing the same routine while you were smoking. The Nicotrol comes in handy here. Again, if your doctor approves the prescription it's a great way to get you through the tough cravings. This method worked great for me and I've shared it with many friends and family who have been successful at quitting. I wish you the best of luck!

L.

what helped me was buying a filter called litenup. it filters out 20%,then 50% then 70% then 90% of tar and nicotine. I used those with ultra lights for a few weeks( did the fast track) then my physical cravings went away so that I did not put my body into shock. the mental craving stayed and I even dreamed about smoking but I kept telling myself I could smoke after I had the baby.......of course, once I had the baby I was too pre-occupied with nursing and caring for a newborn so I did not even think about smoking. Also, cutting back to 5 or 6 ciggarettes a day will help if you cannot quit cold turkey. Its hard! Try those filters and see if they help to wean you off. Then you can keep busy to stay on track. It also helps if you imagine yourself blowing smoke in your baby's crib- that vision helps guilt you into not wanting to smoke. Whatever the outcome, if you can keep it under 10 a day your baby will be much better off than trying cold turkey then relapsing a smoking a pack. I truly think it is easier for some people to taper down than to go cold turkey. At least you care enough to get going in the right direction! Keep trying. Every morning is a new day to start fresh and every day that baby is developing is a miracle in the making! You can do it. Just do what works for you.

good for you, J.! i was pregnant w/my boy & had NO morning sickness or any other 'thing' that made it easy for me to quit. also, i lived in las vegas at the time, where EVERYBODY smoked EVERYWHERE! this may sound silly, but what worked for me was 'smoking' pens/pencils/straws....anything long & cilindrical. like, if i would get into my car to drive somewhere, i would 'smoke' a pencil. if i was having a cup of decaf coffee, i would 'smoke' a straw, etc....it took me about 2-3 weeks before i didnt even crave it anymore! also, i did that 'waiting 5 mins' routine. when u have a craving - WAIT 5 mins...do dishes, take out the trash, make your bed, etc...the craving usually will go away. good luck to you! you are on your way to becoming a very caring mom 8^)

Have you talked to your doctor? My husband just quit using the drug Chantix, but I don't know if it's safe for pregnant women.

Congratulations on the baby and best of luck kicking the habit!!!

Have you asked your doc to help you with this? Nicotine is so additive and tough to kick cold turkey. Good for you to want to do this for your baby and for yourself. I hope you can find the help you need!

Hi J.,

I have not been in your shoes, so don't feel like I have much authority in that matter, but I have heard some people (not all) say that hypnosis helped them quit. I would not worry about resorting to food. You're pregnant, you need to eat, and it's better that you gain a bit more weight than you should and stop smoking, rather than the reverse.

I would also definitely talk to your doctor and see if they have any resources to offer.

You can do it!

Best,

A.