Cigarette smoker just found out she's pregnant.?

Question

I know i need to quit for myself and now for the baby, i have read alan Carr's book on the easy method yet i still stick those filthy things in my mouth and puff away. Every time i light one up i know its hurting the baby. I guess i have no backbone, or willpower.

can someone who's been through this help me out please?!

Answer 1

Try drinking lots of water and exercising (walking or something).  Exercising is supposed to release a stimulant to the brain just like nicotine.  Through out the day, try taking in deep breaths like you're sucking on a straw, it helps.  Stay away from the areas where you normally smoke (I call it smoking territory) and try to stay busy (the more time you have and bored you are, the more likely you'll think about wanting another cigarette).  You may want to try keeping your mouth busy by chewing on gum.  The first time I was pregnant, I had a really hard time quiting, though I did eventually.  This time I've been very lucky because I haven't had a problem at all.  Wish for morning sickness and food aversions!  It really helped me quit.  I couldn't stand looking at certain type of foods (I would get sick just going grocery shopping because I would see "food") and smoking just left me very ill.  Anyway, best of luck to you.  It might help if you join a board for other Moms to be who are trying to kick the habit.  

I love going to babycenter.com, and I did a quick search and found this board for Mom's who are trying to quit.  You may want to look around on the net, too.  Good luck!

http://boards.babycenter.com/bcus1378224  

Answer 2

if you're having a really hard time quitting  how about throwing the cigarettes away--getting a short pencil---and pretending IT is a cigarette.  do the deep breathing same as if you were inhaling the smoke.

Answer 3

Honestly... when I found out that I was pregnant. I went out and smoked one....cause I was so nervous and It made me sick to think that I was making a little innocent body take in this toxin. It was my last cigarrett!! Im not saying that it wasn't hard, but It was way easier than the times that I had tried to quit just by myself. I guess because I wasn't doing it myself. I still have a craving once in a while, but its a small one and easy to control. im 33 weeks prego now. Its just one of those things you have to do. No ifs ands or buts about it. My husband still smokes which I think made it even harder. But seriously if I can do it so can you! Good luck to you.

Answer 4

honey i smoked before i knew i was preggers and QUIT cold turkey the DAY i found out i  was pregnant, and never looked back , its easier said then done, but this is not the time to be SELFISH

you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

i smoked the whole time i was pregnant with my oldest.  yes i had a 4lb 13oz baby.....my middle i only smoked at work (maybe 3 times a week), and quit at 6 months.  my middle was 6lbs. 1oz.  my youngest i never smoked while pregnant with him and he was only 6lbs 6oz.   i know someone that smoked with all 4 of her kids and everyone one of them is healthy, and they were all over 7lbs.  my sister in law smoked with all 4 of her kids and she had two 8 pounders, a 7 pounder and her 2nd one was 4lbs. but, she for some weird reason had water breakage at 4 months.  have you ever though about trying those cigarettes that are fake??  i would talk to your doctor and see if he can put you on zyban or nicorette gum, or nicoderm cq.  it's hard....it's very hard trust me i know.   go ahead next appointment you have with your ob i would find out what you can do.  good luck!!

Answer 6

i used to smoke alot like a pack a day and when i found out i was pregnant i just stopped.

there is nothing good about cigarettes so why smoke? esp while pregnant. just throw wht you have away and tell youself no.. its not that hard.

you'll feel waaaay better once you quit.

if you want a sick baby..go ahead keep smoking its YOUR choice no one can make you quick but you.

if you have he power to keep smoking then you have the power to stop

Answer 7

You're killing your unborn baby.

Is that not motivation enough for you?

Answer 8

Every time you want a smoke, skip one craving and have a smoke on the second powerful craving.  In other words, only smoke for every 1 out of 2 cravings.  After you've done that for a few days, it's easier to let it go completely.  I did this, plus used the nicotine lozenge.  It's not as horrible as it sounds, trust me.  Surround yourself with items that remind you of Baby, and every time a strong craving comes, think of your baby.  If you can cut down to HALF the cigarettes, you'll already be in a good place.  In the meantime, speak to your doctor about using a nicotine replacement.

Answer 9

just throw away all those cigerets. Girl, you know you can do it. Then, when you think about buying more, buy a diaper instead! When your baby comes, OMG, I hope its healthy. And if you stop by doing my trick (or another one) RIGHT NOW, it will be. And this will help you stop forever!!!

Answer 10

Accept the fact it is an addiction and stop belittling yourself.  Get the nicotine gum or the patch ( if your o.b. approves ) I had good success substituting sunflower seeds.  They kept my hands busy and it was something to put in my mouth.  I also drank huge quantities of water.

Keep in mind, the urge for a cigarette only lasts a few seconds.  If you can divert your attention to something else the urge will pass.  I also made it a point to avoid places and activities where I used to enjoy smoking and people who continued to smoke.

It is hard, but it can be done.  I stopped almost 3 years ago and I still get the occasional urge, but it passes.

Congrats and best wishes!

Answer 11

Just think about your fetus slowly becoming more and more deformed.

Answer 12

Smoking cigarettes is an addiction. not only physically, but mentally. After 7 days of not smoking your body no longer has a physical addiction, but your brain does. Instead of going out for a smoke think of something you can do to pre-occupy yourself. When I quite the hardest part was not going outside on my work breaks to smoke so instead I read a book, or wrote in a journal. Then when I would feel like I needed one for stress, or after eating.... you know the triggers... I would deliberately go somewhere that didn't allow smoking. First things first, however, you have to stop buying them. Make it fun... buy something for your baby every time you succeed in not buying a pack of cigarettes. Good luck, you can do it.

Answer 13

I have been an on/off smoker for around 16 years. I didnt smoke through any of my pregnancies for the obvious reasons and the only way I kicked the habbit each time was to just simply go "cold turkey". It isnt hard to do as you know how important it is to stop for your baby's sake. Every time I got a craving I would put a couple of chewies in my mouth and bring out the baby and pregnancy magazines and remind myself why I was kicking them. Its the only way to do it I reckon and you will be surprised how strong willed you can be when it involves your baby. Good luck you can kick the habbit - just get rid of the ciggies today and your on your way...

Answer 14

I smoked when I got pregnant.  I never did quite smoking entirely, however I did get down to only have 4-5 a day.  I know that people are going to say that wasn't enough and I hurt my baby...yadda yadda yadda.  Just for those folks who feel the need to preach on low birth weight and health problems, my son was born weighing 9 pds, 14 ounces and was 24 1/2 inches long.  He had and still has NO medical problems and has only been sick enough to go to the doctor a total of 3 or 4 times his entire life...and he is now 17 years old and is 6'8" and healthy as a horse.

While I realize this is not the norm for babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, it does show that as long as you are able to cut back dramatically, you can still have a healthy baby.