smoking !!!

[louise2011]

please do not judge me or bombard me with how selfish i am , i already know all this I was a smoker of about ten per day have been for years , now i am pregnant (planned) and am finding it really hard to stop i have cut it to two a day , i know this is not a justification .

I am an bright 39 year old woman with a great life and family so i,m not daft but i just cannot stop the 2 i am still having.

I did not smoke in public prior to being pregnant as i was ashamed , so now imagine the shame . i look at women / girls in town smoking when pregnant or with prams and feel distgust and wonder how they have the nerve to smoke in public then i hide away where nobody will see me and do just what they are doing ! i know its mad and i do not understand why i judge others . but think its ok for me to do it

any advice on this ? forgot to say i am 15 weeks

 

[Bexybun]

replied in pregnancy chat x

 

[yourpetal]

Hey!

I am so pleased I stumbled across this post! I wanted to reply to give you some advice but most importantly a little hope. I smoked since a very young age and found it difficult to stop when I became pregnant. I felt exactly the same as you and I was becoming increasing worried about the damage I was doing to my baby.

I decided to go to my doctor and asked to be referred to a support to stop smoking advisor. The lady I saw was very encouraging. She prescribed me with NRT (which is completely safe during pregnant). My carbon monoxide level was measured and the advisor was able to show me how much carbon monoxide was in my baby's body. Anyway, I set a quit date and stuck to it. I didn't even use the NRT in the end. Me and my baby are now smoke free!

My heart sank when you mentioned that you smoke two a day. In a way this can be worse than smoking more. Basically if you are addicted to nicotine and you are only able to smoke to a day the cigarettes you smoke psychologically become a crutch and something you associate with pleasure. I understand that you don't want to smoke but the though processes you go through state otherwise. For example, take people who are addicted to nicotine and 'don't want to give up because they enjoy it'. Do they really enjoy breathing in cancerous toxins which makes them cough and splutter. No. You have to train your body and mind to tolerate smoking. If you asked most smokers if the enjoyed their first cigarette. No. Anyway, it is proven that cutting down is not beneficial to stopping smoking. My point is to arm yourself with the psychology behind smoking. I even have some books that I would be willing to lend you.

My advice is to visit your doctor and ask to be referred to see a support to stop smoking advisor. Get a free prescription of NRT treatment if you think it will help. Research the truth behind smoking and talk to people or talk to me!

Yes the first few days are rough and you will still have cravings for a short while but they will become less. I am free of smoking now and I am loving life and the fact that I have given my baby the best chance!

I could whittle on for hours but I won't because you might now agree with what I have said. If you do and you want me to share my experiences or would like to ask any questions then please do.

Please don't give up on giving up because getting through to the other side is wonderful! I have every faith that you will stop smoking and asking for help is a big step in the right direction!

x

 

[yourpetal]

I had to read what I had written after I had posted it. I am typing on my iPhone which is playing up!

I realised that I put in smokers thoughts in the middle of explaining why it is best not to cut down. I Just wanted to confirm that this is not what I think you are thinking but an example of the psychology behind smoking.

My post seems a bit jumbled in places and the spelling and grammar are awful. All I can do is apologise and try to blame it on my tiredness!

Anyway..

Best wishes for you. I have you in my thoughts.

x

 

[PrincessPeanut]

I had to reply. I'm not a smoker myself, never have been, but I do sympathise with you. We try to do our best for our unborn babies and despite still smoking two a day, you have done well to cut down from what you were smoking. Congratulations. Now you just need to take the next step and stop. I'd follow the advice yourpetal has wrote and go to see your doctor. There is loads of help available to give up when your pregnant. Use as much will power as you can summon and get out there and get the support you need. You don't have to do this alone. I was bombarded with loads of info on giving up smoking when I first become pregnant....and I don't even smoke!!
You know deep down you can do this. Go on girl!! xxxxx

 

[LaurenMM]

Hey hun, in a way im relieved you posted this as I know I'm not alone. My pregnancy was also planned and I was smoking 20-30 a DAY before I found out I was defo pregnant (I found out at four weeks) and amazingly as soon as I got the positive test I chucked out my remaining cigarettes (I had a fresh pack of 20), ripped them to shreds and threw them in the bin.... then I didnt have any cigarettes, not one little puff, for 4 weeks straights. Then my little brain started doing its worrying about every little thing trick and I started having the odd one now and again. But if I go from 20-30 a day to about 3 a MONTH you defo can hun. I do understand its the hardest thing ever, I'm the same as you I look at heavily pregnant women puffing away like they dont care and I think "what a selfish thing to do" and then I'll go n have a puff on my mates fag or something. The worst thing is my husband, he doesnt smoke or even drink (I'm not a drinker either btw!! ), but on the rare occasion I have had one he just looks so upset n disappointed and I think of the potiential damage I'm doing to me and my baby and I'm like "is it even worth it" it's not. I went to my docs and shes prescribed me those nicorette inhalers (she has assured me its perfectly safe to use in pregnancy) and when I do feel like I'm gonna cave in I use one of the inhalers and actually go outside with it as if it was a real cigarette lol sounds mad but I find it really helps.

hope this helps you in some way xx

 

[DW1978]

Just wanted to add that I think you are doing so so well. Please stop chastising yourself and give yourself a pat on the back. I would definitely go and see your GP or MW though as I'm sure they will be able to give you that little helping hand you need to just take that final step. Well done!