smoking?

Ashlee - posted on 09/22/2012

I quit cold turkey the day I found out but I recently, after finding out I am not producing enough milk to keep my son full and satisfied and now have to use formula, started back up. I only smoke outside when he is laying down in his bassinet, and I make sure that my fiance and friends only smoke outside as well. I also know some women who smoke but I'm not sure if they smoked while they were pregnant but I worked with a lady who smoked while she was pregnant. She tried to slow down but eventually said it didn't hurt her first 2 so why bother. She hasn't had her baby that I know of so I can't tell you if she turned out ok but, no matter what anyone says it's the mom's choice and she is going to do it if she wants and you can preach all you want but when they have set their minds to it, your not gonna change their minds. I think as long as you love your baby even if they are sick or have health problems then it's really not that big of a deal I would rather see a mom smoke while being pregnant and love her baby then not care about their kid at all.

Yve - posted on 01/03/2010

Do babies become addicted to cigarettes too when they are borne as I know heroine users babies suffer withdrawal symptoms?

If mums cant give up the nicotine can’t they try using patches or the electronic cigarettes as I know that the NICOTINE is the least harmful chemicals in cigarettes?

Jodie - posted on 01/03/2010

i quit when i found out i was pregnant, but i couldnt of smoked if i wanted to as i had really bad sickness and the thought and smell of cigarettes made me ill. I have started again since having my son but i smoke outside n wash my hands afterwards to make sure it doesnt harm him!!

Donna - posted on 01/02/2010

I quit when i found out i was pregnant and haven't started again and wont for the sake of my son. I hate it when his grandpa gives him cuddles and stinks of smokes...

Nichole - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting amber:

I like how some moms dont really think its a big deal that they smoked during pregnancy and that o " my baby turned out fine " yeah umm dont use that analogy .Its ignorant .I am not trying to be rude but smoking is really bad when ur pregnant and shouldnt be done .PERIOD.Having a little baby growing inside u should be enough determination to quit . Ur baby has a higher risk of sids , childhood ashma , and the list goes on.So pretty much a dr will say if ur smoking ur baby has a higher risk of dieing.Hmmm would be enough motivation for me . Just a thought

Amber,

Just a thought... smoking as an addiction, worse than heroin to quit.... knowing you should quit, wanting to quit, being motivated to quit is a whole lot different than being physically able to just quit, motivated or not! I've always noticed that when people say "not to be rude" they usually intend on being rude. Though you definately are entitled to your opinion try not to sound likeyou are better than people just because you don't agree with them.

Nichole - posted on 01/02/2010

I found it impossible to quit while I was prego... I cut down to 3 smokes a day though from a pack.... about 2 weeks after birth I quit using the lowest does patch, smoking was just inconvenient ( going outside, hand washing, teeth brushing every time) and made me feel guilty. I was smoke free from the middle of March until the middle of July then I went on summer vacation and everyone there smoked so I started again... I quit again when I came home in mid August using Allan Carr's easy way to stop smoking book... I've been smoke free since then! It is a great book, easily the best $20 I've ever spent! I love not being a smoker now... I didn't realize how much it really does stink!!

Cherie - posted on 01/02/2010

I smoked with my 1st daughter and while brestfeedin,, she turned out fine no probs at all with her.. I had my son 6yrs later and had quit smokin a yr b4 i fell preg he has asthma, the allergyies and had bad exema as a baby...and i thought smoking does all that ????

Taymah - posted on 01/02/2010

i slow stop smoking when found out i was pregnant and the hole way through me pregancey i wanted a fag after i had him i started up agen as all i wanted was a fag

Amanda - posted on 01/01/2010

ok, so I smoked the entire time I was prego, while breastfeeding and to this day still smoke. My son is 13months old now and there are no problems. Not to say that if I did it again it would work that way but I am happy my son is perfect and even advanced as said by his pediatrician.

Nikki - posted on 01/01/2010

im not a smoker so i hav no experience but both of my parents r the only thing i will say is that the mums n dads that do...obviously u kno to designate a smokin area n iss helpful to put sumthing over clothin that u wearin wen holdin or even within a meter of the bby because the by will sell the smoke (remember sense of smell is stronger then us at that age) just so the smoke particles dnt effect them that way (some ppl forget bout the smell n jus focus on the actual smoke) hope no offense is taken :) happy new yr every1

Tina - posted on 01/01/2010

Wih my 1st child, 15 years ago, I smoked the entire pregnancy, and finally quit just over a year ago. So far, the only repercussions that I have seen with her due to my smoking was that the first 2 years, or so, she was HIGHLY susceptible to ear infections and strep throat. She is now turning 15 in 2 weeks, and she is in soccer, cross country, and trying out for track. Meanwhile, my husband and I felt that we were FINALLY ready to quit smoking on March 17, '08, and within1 week, I was prenant. I found out on the 5th or 6th week of the patch. Perfectly healthy son born in December'08, and in his 1st year, he has only been sick once, but so far (knock on wood), no ear infections. Just a little 24-48 hr bug w/ slight fever & vomitting-poor punkin'. Hope this helps.

Lisa - posted on 01/01/2010

I smoked for 10 years before I found out I was pregnant, and I only found out i was pregnant after three months. I am in my 40's so i thought for sure i was going through menopause but surprise surprise ,my little miracle came along healthy and happy. I did not quit during pregnancy but I did cut down unfortunatly I still smoke but we do not smoke in the house, My daughter was born healthy at 6lbs 110z and she has been well ever since. I did breastfeed for 4months i knew if was wrong to smoke because the nicotine does go through breastmilk. I felt terrible but I just can not quit. really trying to cut down now or new year is here, lets make a resolution to stop all together.
I remember years ago when smoking was allowed anywhere, even in the hospital, my girlfriend lit up a cigarette in her room right after birth, so things have changed, what they know now about smoking sure did not make a difference back then.

JESSICA - posted on 12/31/2009

I hate to say it but I quit for about a month only, my son is nine months old and I still smoke, unfortunately. I don't recomend it but my son is in good health, I was blessed. Good luck to you.

Mandy - posted on 12/31/2009

I smoked for the first 3 months of my 1st pregnancy. It was very hard for me to quit cold turkey because all of my friends smoked but i cut down until i finally quit but about a month after i had the baby i started back up. As soon as i found out i was prego with my 2nd child i stopped and havent picked them up since. Both of my girls are healthy. :) good luck!

Brittany - posted on 12/31/2009

I smoked up til about my 7th month... I know its horrible... but it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life to do... i would sit there and smoke and still have it running in the back of my head what the heck are you doing? finally i found the strength in my to stop... my baby was 9 lbs. 2 oz. and very healthy... i was very lucky! i stayed off of them for about 2 months while i breast feed and my nerves got the best of me and i started back up... just hang in there! Best of luck to ya!

Kelly - posted on 12/31/2009

I quit while pregnant and did not breastfeed, but i do smoke again now. I dont do it around my baby...

Jennifer - posted on 12/31/2009

I quit smoking when I found out I was pregnant with my first but started back up before I left the hospital with him. Seven years later I got pregnant with my 2nd and just could not quit while I was pregnant with him (so hard) but since I was having a c-section again I knew I would not be able to smoke for at least a day while I was in the hospital and that is how I quit. My 2nd son is now 6 and a half months old and I am still not smoking.

Shauna - posted on 12/31/2009

I gave up smoking on my honeymoon and thats when I got pregnant. My son is one year next week and I haven't had a smoke since giving up, but it is quite hard work not having one! The temptation is there when drinking, so I try to stay away from the alcohol too, I know... boring! My Mum didn't smoke with my eldest sister and she was 2mths premmie, but she did with my other sister and I and we were full term so I guess it depends on the person.

Sonnika - posted on 12/30/2009

I smoked while pregnant,much less of course,my baby is healthy and has not been sick once. Everything in moderation!

Renae - posted on 12/30/2009

I wish I could agree with Jessica. I was a heavy smoker (didn't help that I worked for a ciggarette company for a few years and they give all staff a ciggarette allowance - which was enough to cover both mine and my husbands ciggarettes). It was hard as hell. I could guess for about the first 6 months I wanted a ciggarette about half the time. I still want one. I still get cravings especially when I'm doing something that I would always have had one.

Renae - posted on 12/30/2009

I smoked for 12 years until the day I found out I was pregnant. I have not had a ciggarette since, baby is 10mo, but I'm still breast feeding so I couldn't even if I wanted to. I have no intention of starting again, I never planned to smoke forever so if I start again I will just have to quit again!

Sarah - posted on 12/30/2009

I quit the morning after I found out I was pregnant and have not smoked since. It was very hard. I am having more issues with it now. I didn't quit because I didn't like smoking- I quit because I knew it was best for my son. And I have never wanted a cigarette more than I do now (he's almost 5 weeks old). I am breastfeeding though and I know that whatever I take in, he does too.I thought throughout my entire pregnancy "How can somone not smoke for 9 months and then start again?!" But now I completely understand. It's hard but we gotta watch out for that babies :-) Best of luck to you!

Raemarie - posted on 12/30/2009

I smoked while I was pregnant with both my daughter, who is now 7 and my son, who is now 9 months old. I never had any problems with either of my kids. My daughter was 3 weeks late and a decent size baby, she was 7 pounds and 9 ounces. My son was not early and he was a good size to. I spoke to this day but not in the house or car. My kids are hardly ever sick and never did any of them ever have an ear infection.

Jessica - posted on 12/30/2009

I smoked maybe a half pack/day before I got preggo, and quit cold turkey when I found out i was. I craved one every once in a while but overall it wasn't hard. I knew I had to. My problem now is that I'm breastfeeding (he's 6 months) and starting to get back into it. I have one everynight after he goes to bed and I won't need to feed him for a while. We never smoke in the house or around the baby. Sometimes though I will have one other than that- i just get so stressed out sometimes its my only way to calm down! I know its not healthy and I feel bad. I read that they still recommend BFing over formula even when the mothers smoke. I know thats not an excuse though!

Amber - posted on 12/30/2009

Quoting Chrissy:

I am a smoker-- but quit while I was pregnant all 3 times. But in order for my stress level to remain in check I resumed after I delivered all 3 times... My husband and I are trying to quit after New Years but, even though I quit with all 3, they were all 37 weeks or earlier and all were small and my first had MAJOR lung problems-- even though I quit while pregnant...

awww im sorry things still happen even when u dont smoke but im sure it could haVE BEEN WORSE if u did

Chrissy - posted on 12/30/2009

I am a smoker-- but quit while I was pregnant all 3 times. But in order for my stress level to remain in check I resumed after I delivered all 3 times... My husband and I are trying to quit after New Years but, even though I quit with all 3, they were all 37 weeks or earlier and all were small and my first had MAJOR lung problems-- even though I quit while pregnant...

Carly - posted on 12/30/2009

I no 3 people that I have been around throughout there pregnancies who smoked and all of there children have had problems with there eyes & all suffer with asthma. I am not nessercarily saying that them smoking definetly caused the problems but I think it's a rather big coincidence for all 4 children to have the same problem & not be related. On a personal basis I never smoked, drank alcohol, ate badily or had any intake of caffiene throughout my pregnancy as I personally think that you should try your hardest to give your baby the best start in life & try to keep your habits down or none at all until after the pregnancy. Your only pregnant for 9 months, not forever! Think of your baby seriously, give them there own choice wether or not to blacken there lungs in the future! Dont do it for them.

Amber - posted on 12/30/2009

I like how some moms dont really think its a big deal that they smoked during pregnancy and that o " my baby turned out fine " yeah umm dont use that analogy .Its ignorant .I am not trying to be rude but smoking is really bad when ur pregnant and shouldnt be done .PERIOD.Having a little baby growing inside u should be enough determination to quit . Ur baby has a higher risk of sids , childhood ashma , and the list goes on.So pretty much a dr will say if ur smoking ur baby has a higher risk of dieing.Hmmm would be enough motivation for me . Just a thought

Nancy - posted on 05/22/2009

I smoked for 20 years and started cutting down as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I was completely smoke free by my 2nd trimester. My daughter is now almost 7 months old and although I have been very tempted I have not started again. When I get tempted I remind myself that as her mom I don't have the right to shorten my life and deprive her of her mommy.

Stephanie - posted on 05/22/2009

I smoked anywhere from half a pack to a whole one in a day before getting pregnant, being a young mother i was pretty scared and stressed and found cigarettes as my only escape. i smoked up until 4 month when i started to show and found my self trying to hide, not because anyone said ne thing to my but because i felt embarressed, i then realized that i know longer enjoyed it and wanted what was best for my baby, i dropped the cigarettes gradually cuz it is unsafe to quite cold turkey right away, causes a shock to your system an baby, but i quit an haven't looked back, my son is 2 an a half months old now and i still do crave here and there but as time goes by its easier to say no because it best for you and baby.. plus ever smell someone after you quit that smokes peeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuu..lol.. good luck

Natalie - posted on 05/22/2009

hi, i smoked from the age of 14, i quit when i found out i was 4 weeks preg, i quit cold turkey, was crazy and was tough for about a month, but after that it got easier and easier and now my daughter is 6 months nearly and it's the best thing i ever did, honestly it's tough for a while, but so worth being free from smoking.

apparently you can use the inhaler and thats is safe during pregnancy.

good luck

Brittany - posted on 05/22/2009

Quoting Cassandra:

I smoked with my first pregnecy I tried to quit but found it very hard to just stop cold turkey. My doctor said I should try and cut down and I did cut down but then on those really hard days I was smoking half a pack. My daughter was born one day before her due date and was 7lbs 1 oz and healthy. She will be a year in 15 days and its perfect. Im now pregnant with my second (3 months ) and still find it very hard to stop smoking. My mom smoked while she was pregnant with me I was 3 weeks early but even now there is nothing wrong with me. I think its a persons personal choice some people find it very easy to stop while others have a harder time. I dont judge either way but I do say congrats to the ones who could stop.

I agree with you Cassandra. I also tried really hard to quit, but when I was upset about something (and the hormones didn't help) I would smoke up to a half a pack a day. It really didn't help that everyone around me smoked. I felt guilty about it and asked other women I knew if they had quit when they were pregnant. Most of them said yes because they had an aversion to cigarettes and cigarette smoke. My cousin said with her first she tried smoking (she was in high school and it was cool to smoke) and she would start puking. She said it got so bad that she would get sick if her mom asked her to bring her a lighter. I didn't have this aversion, I still had the cravings and couldn't smoke.

I did feel guilty, but like you, my mom smoked with me and I was fine. I was 6 weeks early, but even then the worse thing with me was that I was small and I got jaundice. Other than that, my lungs were developed and I was fully formed even with fingernails. My daughter was full term and small, but small babies run in my family and her dad's. Honestly, I'm happy she was small. It wasn't so bad of a pregnancy and labor, I'm already down to my pre-pregnancy size except for a little pooch (she's 4 weeks), and she gained weight fast since being born.

Cassandra - posted on 05/22/2009

I smoked with my first pregnecy I tried to quit but found it very hard to just stop cold turkey. My doctor said I should try and cut down and I did cut down but then on those really hard days I was smoking half a pack. My daughter was born one day before her due date and was 7lbs 1 oz and healthy. She will be a year in 15 days and its perfect. Im now pregnant with my second (3 months ) and still find it very hard to stop smoking. My mom smoked while she was pregnant with me I was 3 weeks early but even now there is nothing wrong with me. I think its a persons personal choice some people find it very easy to stop while others have a harder time. I dont judge either way but I do say congrats to the ones who could stop.

Brittany - posted on 05/22/2009

I smoked when I was pregnant. I cut down some, but I smoked. It was the only bad thing I did. My daughter wasn't premature, she was 38, almost 39, weeks. She was only 5 pounds 13 ounces, but she was perfectly healthy. We even got to go home a day earlier than they usually allow. When I smoked I was most worried about her lungs not developing but they have. She was small, but she's gaining weight quick. She gained 5 ounces the first 5 days, then lost that by day 8. After that, she's 4 weeks old and has gained over 2 pounds.



I also smoked when I was breastfeeding. I thought about not breastfeeding because I smoked but I saw a pamphlet that says that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the harm of smoking so still do it.



I'm still smoking, but we don't smoke around her. We go outside when we smoke. Either she's taking a short nap in her bassinet or bouncer and we go out the side door where we can hear her or we take turns smoking.

Emily - posted on 05/22/2009

With my first, I didnt find out I was pregnant until I was about 10 weeks along. I was up to a pack a day and it took me two weeks to fully quit cold turkey. It was so hard, but I'm glad I did it. I had a huge healthy baby.
The biggest mistake I made was going back to smoking after I had my son. I literally hobbled out of the hospital to have a cigarette. And then it was all over. I became more addicted than ever. I recently found out I'm pregnant again, and it was even harder to quit time around. I hated giving up my cigarette break whenever my son fell asleep. A cigarette never felt more deserved after dealing with a cranky toddler! So this time, I am NOT going to start smoking again after this pregnancy!

Sarah - posted on 05/22/2009

I am a smoker. I was smoking 40 a day before i found out i was pregnant! When i did the pregnancy test and it came back positive i felt sick at the thought of smoking but once things settled down and i got used to the idea i was pregnant i found myself getting agitated and needing a ciggie all the time. I'm not as strong as the women above because i caved in. I spoke to my midwofe about it and she said that if i think i will get stressed stopping completely that i shouldn't but i should cut down to 5 or less a day. I asked her to refer me to a stop smoking clinic and smoked between 3 and 4 a day. Once the first trimester was up and everything was ok i started to slip and went back to 10 a day :( Everyone kept having a go at me and i appreicated that because they were just looking out for me and my baby but isn't there just something about people saying all that stuff that just makes you NEED a ciggie?? Anyway, i stuck to 10 a day unless i was having a good day when i could drop it down to 5. My beautiful baby boy was born a healthy 7lb 7oz and was breastfed for the first 16 weeks, he has no problems at all. I would never ADVISE someone to smoke during pregnancy but i sure as hell wouldn't tell them all the stories because that's what made me need a ciggie more than anything! I think smoking heavily can affect babies and i'm glad i was able to cut down from the 40 a day i was smoking. Of course i would prefer to have been able to stop completely but it would certainly have stressed me out and i'm not sure which is the lesser of the two evils for baby. My beautiful son is 6 months old next Tuesday and i am extremely proud of him. I am still waiting for the stop smoking clinic to contact me though after the midwife's referral!! But that's the NHS for you! xx

Kalie - posted on 05/22/2009

Hello , I was a addict and I can say that. With my first I cut down and quit after finding out about him. It was a hard battle and the guilty was a killer whifch helped. After he quit the breast I picked up again. Not the smart thing to do! Though I only smoked a few a day always outside and never around my son. Then i got pregnant unexpectedly again. It was easier to quit the second time around. I don't want to pick it up again afterwards.

Mel - posted on 05/22/2009

im not personally a smoker but the people i know a couple quit when they got pregnant but most still smoke but they formula feed. my god son's mother smokes though and she breast feeds him. It doesnt make you a bad mother so dont feel guilty if you are. personally i smoked before finding out i was pregnant but not after but i wasnt addicted so i cant say if i would have quit had i been addicted. i was and am still only a social smoker, i chain smoke when i drink other then that i dont touch them

Emma - posted on 05/22/2009

i also quit as soon as i found out.... i didnt cut down just stopped cold turkey. i feel it was the best thing for my daughter who is just over three months. the only time i feel like one now is when i have something to drink, those old cravings come back. My partner also gave up about 5months ago. When things get tough we now have each other to lean on.

Lowri - posted on 05/22/2009

hiya i smoked up to 20 a day till the day i found out i was pregnant with eleri and just stopped...had tried before but hadnt succeeded eleri is now nearly 10 months old and i haven't had a cigarrette since....doesn't mean i dont crave one now and again but the thought honestly turns me now. i think it helps if ur doing it for your child because when they are in ur womb they have no choice in the matter and u have the job of protecting ur unborn child so smoking isnt really an option. also i gave up as my partner suffers from asthma so eleri had a higher risk of developing it anyway even if i didnt smoke so giving up also wasnt an option it was a given. even with all this it was still REALLY hard to give up but u have to .....end of.

Erin - posted on 05/22/2009

I quit when I found out I was pregnant. On doctor's advice I gradually cut down, and had quit completely after 10 days. I haven't had a cigarette since, and my daughter is 3 1/2 months old. I never used to understand why a woman could go the entire length of a pregnancy without a cigarette and then take it back up?!?!?! Now I do. My daughter pretty much screamed the entire time she was awake, and not feeding, for the first 8 weeks, and I wanted a cigarette ALL THE TIME. The only thing that stopped me was concern for my daughter's health. I refuse to have her suffer due to my bad habit. But it is hard..... I still often want one. I just don't.