Smoking & Pregnant..UPDATED 1/23

As I feel ssoooo guilty writing this, I am going to anyway. I have been a smoker for over 15 years and normally 1/2 pack a day..when I found out I was preg. just THIS week, I am smoking 3-4 a day and I feel like ****, but here is why - I have an anxiety disorder and can't take my meds anymore - xanax. So when I get anxious I smoke, now, I cut down TREMOUDSLY (sp?) but I did not quit...
Please girls help me get through this.

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Thank you all for your posts, light hearted and stern ones !! No offense to anyone. I just wanted to say that I am trying TODAY to quit.
I had 2 cig. today but HOPEFULLY THAT IS IT. I may post here from time to time for support, ok?

1/23 *************************
Just wanted to let you all know that I am 5 days smoke free as of today !! I had to brag about this. Thank you all ! I knew I would do it, just didn't know how long it would take.

Message edited 1/23/2006 9:56:51 AM.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

What advise has your Doctor given you?

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

Listen, you are not the only person who is doing this. I have never been a smoker, so I cannot even imagine what you are going through, however, I do have major anxiety issues. Speak to your doctor to find out if there is anything else you can take to help with your anxiety. My mother smoked a pack a day with my sister and I, as I'm sure a TON of other people did back then, so I wouldn't beat yourself up so bad. Is it good for you and the baby? No. But you are not a bad person. Maybe trying hypnotherapy for your anxiety and smoking might help. Although I'm skeptical of it, you never know. It's worth trying everything at this point. Hang in there, and please talk to your dr.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

Dr. said to quit smoking now and that I can't take any meds while pregnant. At that point, I broke down in his office.

I was thinking maybe I will feel differently in just a few weeks, when I hear the heartbeat , but as for now, it is just soo new - i found out 4 days ago.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

I am too still smoking but a lot less then normal.. I tried to stop a few times but my work and then people i deal w/ make me crazy..

Message edited 1/7/2006 5:52:47 PM.

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Well cut down little by little everyday...

I def think you should quit...but you gotta do it at your own pace.....

There are people who smoke throughout there pregnancy and have healthy babies all the time!!

I use to smoke and quit about 2 yrs prior to getting preg. and it was hard!!! So I feel for you

Everyweek lessen it by a cigarette a day....wean yourself off.... Ex- 4 cig a day everyday this week...then 3 everyday next week...and so forth.... In a month you'll be done...

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

its all psychological with the smoking. i quit once i knew and sknowing that i was not hurting the baby was enough to quit. your baby will be more likely to smoke if you continue to smoke plus you dont want the baby to develop growth problems. i would look into taking a medicine safe for anxiety and quit smoking.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

I understand. I used to smoke 1/2 a pack a day. Then I cut down to a social smoker. When I found out I was pregnant I completely stopped.

Maybe staying away from people who smoke may help. And take it one day at a time. One day without a cigarette, 2 days without a cigarette....

Just think about the baby- and his/her health. She can have so many problems if you smoke, including webbed feet or missing fingers or toes.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

First off - don't be so hard on yourself. We all have our guilty pleasures.

Try and find ways to relive your anxiety. I am somebody who can sympathize. I am an extremely anxious person and I would LOVE to pick up a cigarette anyday but I know it is a bad habbit and I'd be a chain smoker.

I knew people who smoked the whole pregnancy constantly and I've known people who quit cold turkey and I've known people who cut down to two cigarettes a week.

If you can research and find some relaxation techniques and also try and find a way to stop the cravings for the cigarettes you will probably do ok. Hang in there !!! And stop feeling so guilty!!!

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

I can't help with the smoking, because I never smoked, but there ARE anxiety meds that you can definately take while pregnant!

Talk to your Dr again. I took Wellbutrin XL while pregnant and it definately helped

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

I know how you feel, i used to smoke a pack a day, When i found out i was pregnant, I tried to quit cold turkey, had such a difficult time with it, so when i went to my 1st doctors appt, i told her i tried to quit completey but i had been smoking 2-3 cigarettes a day, so she said i have 4 weeks until my next appt and this is what she wants me to do...

First drop down to lightest cigarette possible, ultra lights if possible.

Week 1 - 3 cigarettes a day, Do not smoke the entire cigarette, just a few puffs to get passed the craving. Do not clip the cigarette, throw it away after a few puffs. (It takes almost 2 hours to get the nicotine out of your bloodstream, so smoking 3 cigarettes a day but clipping them and smoking numerous times no matter how many puffs keeps the nicotine in your body longer.) Ex: 3 cigarettes clipped and smoked 9 times during the day is like smoking 9 cigarettes. The nicotine lasts 2 hours each time you light up.

Week 2 - 2 cigarettes a day

Week 3 - 1 cigarette a day

Week 4 - None by next visit i want you to have completely stopped.

Then she said to do a few things to remind me not to smoke when i grab my pack of cigs like,

Attach something to your cigarette pack reminding you of the baby,
Like a little rattle, or
your sonogram picture (which works best)

Or attach a note to your pack that says, if your baby was here would you want them to smoke this cigarette? Then dont smoke it now!!!!!! ( I did this until i had my 1st sonogram)

I know it sounds so stupid to some people, but i took my babies sonogram picture and put it in the cellophane from my cigarette pack and everytime i grabbed it for one, i saw my baby and i couldnt light it. I felt to guilty.

Good Luck, I know its hard, but I know you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

Please don't feel bad. First off having a baby is a major change in lifestyle living for any woman. Besides not being able to have a drink, most woman have to give up certain foods and drinks.

My mother, aunts, and cousins all smoked (back in the 80s and 90s) and all of them had healthy babies and i also know woman today who smoke occassionally who are pregnant. My mom always said to me (she smoked the whole pregnancy) that she didn't know how she would be able to handle giving birth and not having a cigarette for so long while in labor!!!! Mind you she quit 4 years later. She said pregnancy was so hard for her and she does not know how she would of handled it without being able to smoke.

It's your decision what you can handle during a difficult time. Anxiety issues are something i never had to understand so i can only imagine how much harder it is for you.

I personally think that most doctors would tell pregnant ladies they can have a drink once a week or a cigarette once a week but they are more worried that woman will take it to mean well they said one so i can have three....

Try and quit the best way you can. There are going to be woman who are going to be thinking what are you doing....but honestly it's your decision.

Try and slowly ween yourself off of it. Try three, then two, then one a week. If you can't do it you can't. It's your body and you only know how much you can deal with.

Good luck. I know how hard it is to quit.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

I really appreciate all the posts, I had 4 cig. today and I am going to sleep now, so I will try hard tomorrow... I promise.

I didn't even have the first sonogram yet, so that may make my decision to quit easier.

I guess all those meds are anti-depressants, and they didn't work for my anxiety, only xanax did, so I am sure that is what the dr. meant, by no anxiety medicines.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

I just wanted to lend you some support. It took courage to post this.
I am not a smoker but I will say that you are doing a really wonderful thing for your baby...the first of many wonder things and the first of a million sacrifices..quiting smoking is going to be really hard, but in the end you are giving your baby so much..clean air to breath, a healthy start in life and a healthy mommy to live a long time.
You can do this because it is best for your baby and in the end, that is most important.
Good Luck.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

Posted by aidamarie

I know how you feel, i used to smoke a pack a day, When i found out i was pregnant, I tried to quit cold turkey, had such a difficult time with it, so when i went to my 1st doctors appt, i told her i tried to quit completey but i had been smoking 2-3 cigarettes a day, so she said i have 4 weeks until my next appt and this is what she wants me to do...

First drop down to lightest cigarette possible, ultra lights if possible.

Week 1 - 3 cigarettes a day, Do not smoke the entire cigarette, just a few puffs to get passed the craving. Do not clip the cigarette, throw it away after a few puffs. (It takes almost 2 hours to get the nicotine out of your bloodstream, so smoking 3 cigarettes a day but clipping them and smoking numerous times no matter how many puffs keeps the nicotine in your body longer.) Ex: 3 cigarettes clipped and smoked 9 times during the day is like smoking 9 cigarettes. The nicotine lasts 2 hours each time you light up.

Week 2 - 2 cigarettes a day

Week 3 - 1 cigarette a day

Week 4 - None by next visit i want you to have completely stopped.

Then she said to do a few things to remind me not to smoke when i grab my pack of cigs like,

Attach something to your cigarette pack reminding you of the baby,
Like a little rattle, or
your sonogram picture (which works best)

Or attach a note to your pack that says, if your baby was here would you want them to smoke this cigarette? Then dont smoke it now!!!!!! ( I did this until i had my 1st sonogram)

I know it sounds so stupid to some people, but i took my babies sonogram picture and put it in the cellophane from my cigarette pack and everytime i grabbed it for one, i saw my baby and i couldnt light it. I felt to guilty.

Good Luck, I know its hard, but I know you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

I was a pack a day smoker myself. When I found out I was pregnant I immediately cut down to a 1/2 a pack. Then 5 or 6 a day. Then 2 or 3 and eventually at around week 8 I completely stopped. I never thought I could do it and to this day it is hard. FH smokes a lot which definatly doesn't help. I don't really have any advice for you because I don't think it is ever easy. However I can tell you that I am very proud of myself for doing it and nothing can take that felling away. Good luck to you!

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

Are you kidding me?? All you guys are supporting her poison her baby. You say to just try to slow down.. W T F . I cannot believe I'm reading this. You need to quit right away. Do you know what you are doing to your baby? Check this link out. If your going to be a mother you need to grow up.

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I think there is a much bigger issue than the smoking here!

No one should have to live with chronic anxiety. If you take care of that, the smoking will probably follow suit since you smoke a small amount.

I would go back to your primary care doc and ask for help with couseling/meds from a psychiatrist for the anxiety. Whatever anxiety you have will just be magnified once the baby arrives if you don't learn some coping mechanisms and get it under better control.

Get it taken care of because this is your life and you don't need to suffer!

PS - my mom smoked 3-4 PACKS a day with me (she didn't know she was preggo until late 2nd trimester) and I had breathing, allergy and asthma problems. And my brother smokes b/c he got hooked from 2nd hand smoke. But we still love her just as much as any non-smoking mom!

Quit to be a good example for your future child too! Good Luck!

Message edited 1/8/2006 10:59:00 AM.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

I am sorry that I posted and I do not want to start a fight..honestly - I know this is such a touchy topic, but I look and feel as you are all my friends, and I posted for support, and reading these posts DO DO DO SOOO much help me you have no idea.

I do not want anyone to fight over this..please, it is my problem and I am dealing with it as best as possible right now.

Re: Smoking and Pregnant

Many s and that you find the strength to kick the habit.

Just wanted to share that MIL smoked while preggo with her 2 kids. She thought they were "perfectly normal and healthy" - but in fact, they were low birth weight, and both have educational disabilities. Her daughter experiences decreased brain function and barely graduated high school. She hasn't picked up a book since 1996. That is no way for a kid to live, and you HAVE CONTROL over it -

Be strong, take control, see about getting some meds, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put down the cigs.

We're all here if you need support.