Quiting Smoking While Pregnant

There are certain things that help reduce cravings of all kinds including cigarettes. Carrots is an example of one. Certain vitamins also help reduce cravings. You should look into it.

I had to taper down and it was hard because my husband still smokes. He had to go out side it's a sacrafice you just have to make!

Hypnosis is the best way to approach this. Thousands of people have been able to stop without much struggle.

Actually, it's extremely effective for any and all addictions.

~L.
www.accesspilates.com
www.notaboutfood.com

First of all switching OB's simply because that person wouldn't prescribe a remedy that would be harmful to you and your baby wasn't wise.I feel that the honesty of that physician is rare.My thoughts to the expectant mother is by continuing to smoke she is simply saying "I want my child to have breathing problem at birth and possibly later in life,I want my baby to be born premature with low birth weight and loads of complication that usually come with extremely premature babies."And this is a short list of possible side affect from smoking.If she was able to stop smoking with the first child there had to be a stronger desire to quit, then what she is exhibiting with the current pregnancy.Fear of the unknown is a great controlling factor for some people .But some times like children when we get away with doing wrong we continue to do wrong .As a mother of 7 healthy children and a non-smoker of 26 years(cold-turkey with Christ on my side);I know quitting is possible with out the drugs.Just remember you're doing it for your child's healhty start and your continued future with your children.Second-hand smoke can harm the born and the unborn children as well. Prayer does change things. So I will remember your family in mine.

Hi R.,

As a former smoker, I really hope your sister can quit smoking as soon as possible since she's pregnant. I think I read somewhere that smoking starves the fetus of oxygen, but I've also heard that the stress of quitting smoking can be worse on the fetus.

Anyway, I smoked between a pack and a pack and a half a day for 10 years, and I quit cold turkey. I wasn't pregnant at the time, so I had the luxury of time to prepare myself, but maybe some of these tips can help your sister.

First thing I did was switch brands to one that didn't have any additives or preservatives. (Read the earlier post about all the bad stuff that's hidden in cigarettes!) I did this for a while to break the addiction to all that bad stuff in them. It took a little while for me to get used to the flavor, but I sucked it up and got used to it eventually. If she can't quit altogether, at least she can smoke a "better" cigarette.

Second thing I did was change my thinking about smoking. Everytime I started smoking one, I would graphically tell myself how bad they were, how strong a person I was to have accomplished x, y, and z, and how could I use smoking as a crutch, it's a disgusting habit, etc. Again, I did this every single time I smoked one. By the time I was ready to quit cold turkey, I was pretty disgusted with myself for being a smoker. I think this was crucial to my success in quitting. Your sister can still do this to help change her mindset and start to break the psychological addiction. If you like smoking but are trying to quit because you intellectually know that it's bad for you (as I tried to do many times), it just ain't gonna happen.

Once I quit cold turkey, anytime I wanted a cigarette I would distract myself with something. I would drink (well it was more like chugging it down) a 16oz bottle of water whenever I had a really bad craving. After drinking all that water in such a short period of time, I was so full of water that was sloshing around in my stomach that I didn't want to put anything else in my body...not even smoke!

I did the majority of my smoking at night, so when I was home in the evening I had to take it up a notch. Whenever the water trick wasn't enough, I would start doing crunches and do as many as I could until it burned. Again, I wasn't pregnant at the time, but your sister could do whatever exercise she feels comfortable doing and just do it until it burns. That also helped take the edge off the bad cravings.

With those two tricks, I actually ended up losing 5 lbs, whereas most people gain weight because they replace smoking with snacking.

It'll be 10 years this summer that I quit smoking! And I haven't picked up one since (or even wanted to).

I wish your sister the best of luck! It's a really hard habit to break.

I chain smoked for about a year before I found out I was pregnant. It was a bad habit and I am glad I stopped, although it was very difficult. With me, I was smoking menthols, so I switched from menthols to regualr cigs which I hated, and that helped me quick a lot faster. If that isn't the situation, make sure someone is there with her to ween her off, someone ration them, and slowly to the point she won't want them. With me, I only smoked for about another 3 weeks after I found out I was pregnant, mostly because the smell of smoke was starting to nauseate me. Get her to try to only smoke when she feels like she really needs it, once she;s down to one to three a day, throw the cigs out on her, and just get her to think its for the baby, I did that too, and who has money to keep wasting on cigs when pregnant, babies are expensive! LOL Get her to look at it that way, save money. I hope some of this helped

I just didn't buy any more. It's really hard to smoke when you don't have any. It's torture the first couple of days while everything gets out of your system.

Cold turkey was the best method for me. I tried to taper down, but I found that when I limited myself, all I would think about was that next cigarette.

I've never smoked so I don't have any suggestions by experience...however I do remember that when my grandmother was trying to quit, she put a bunch of wet butts in an ash tray...when she had a craving, she was sniff it (BTW it smells HORRIBLE!!) Being pregnant it might just be bad enough of a smell to make her sick and might not want it anymore b/c of that. Good Luck and good for her to quit while she's pregnant!!

Hi, there!

If your sister lives in Carroll County, have her contact the Health Dept. at ###-###-####. They have an excellent smoking cessation program and they've worked with pregnant women before.

If she doesn't live in Carroll Co., have her contact the Health Dept. in the county/city she lives in; they ALL have cessation programs.

Good luck to her and congrats on becoming a new aunt real soon!

Pam
Westminster, MD

There are smoker's anonymous groups in the area. Your sister may want to try one of those- may help w/ additional support she may be needing. Wishing her best of luck!

R.,

I have been addicted to cigarettes. I smoked for 8 years and I quit cold turkey when I was 4 months pregnant with my first child. I didn't want my child to have complications because I smoked. I did pick it up again shortly after I had my son. The next time I quit was because I was told that I would not live long if I continued to smoke. I personally believe it is mind over matter. I quit cold turkey that time too, however I thought of my own life each time I wanted a cigarette. It was very hard, but I believe if you have enough will power and you have friends to encourage you then it can be done. She needs to focus on the precious little one that God has blessed her with and herself. I believe if she thinks of this often it will be a big help. I hope it all works and I will keep her in my prayers.

L.
____@____.com

Hey R.-
It is really hard. I smoked through the first trimester weaning myself daily, it was incredibly hard. but, I focused my thgouts on the baby growing inside. I made myself picture her coughing and that really helped me a lot. I Quiting cold turkey is not good for Mom or baby. It causes stress on both. She needs to pace herself and concentrates on the baby. if she truly wants to quit she'll be able to do it. It took me about a month or two to be totally smoke free, I can't remember exactly how long. My GYN was totally supportive. Not sure why exactly but he recommended that I be sure to drink an entire glass of water after each cigarette, I think it helps to oxygenate the blood???? I wouldn't quote that necessarily, not sure how true that is. But water is great for your body so it can't hurt, right. Best of luck to your sister.
-S.

Bottom line is it is going to be hard. I smoked during my pregnancies. Not a lot, but I did. I was told the stress of quitting would prob be worse than the damage cigs do. That being said, my youngest was born with a brain issue. If I had known, obviously you "hear" things, but if I had warning that this was real I would have worked much harder.
My suggestion is to be very supportive. Help her with her other child if you can for a few days while she goes thru withdraw. Harder when prego I think because of hormones. Keep busy. Learn to love pops or something to fill the holes of time when she used to smoke.
The more stresses the people in her life help her with, the easier it will be. When quitting (I did eventually quit) the smallest actions can set you over the edge. Many smokers don't know how to do it, it is trial and error.
Good luck to you both!

Hi R., I had always planned on quitting before I got pregnant but we got pregnant much faster than expected (which was great!). Anyway, it's true she can't use anything to help her as far as meds are concerned. It wasn't easy, I won't lie, but knowing that there was someone else's life who depended on it made all the difference in the world. And the best part- my daughter is 6 months old today and I haven't picked one up since I quit!! I've never felt better! The secret might be that she needs to tell herself that she can't smoke today, but after the baby is born, she can start again. Personally, I doubt she'll even want to! I had my stressed moments when she was a few weeks old and I remember thinking about just one smoke, but then I pictured holding her afterwards and smelling like an ashtray and I wanted no part of it. She really can do it. It'll be a struggle but in the end, she'll be thrilled about it!!

Hi R.,

I used sticks of veggies and fruit and lots of gum.I just had them with me every time I had a craving with my first two pregnancies. But I had the hardest time quiting with my third. I know the one thing I didn't have with my third was a great support system. Having people to talk to you and support you through the pregnancy is a big part to being healthy. www.smokefreevirginia.org/
This website has been helpful to me. They have different quit plans and a number to call also for support. I hope I have helped in some way. J. W.

When I was pregnant, I talked to my OB about using the patch. The Dr said that the baby would get the niccotine from the patch. So I told the Dr that I was not able to quit smoking on my own, and he agreed with me that the niccotine from the patch was less harmfull than all of the chemicals from smoking. I used the lowest dose of the patch, and only for a couple weeks until I had overcome the habit of the act of smoking. Tell your sister good luck!

I am a smoker and I had a hard time trying to quit while I was pregnant. What worked for me was every time I got the urge I thought about the baby and did something to keep my hands busy. I also chewed gum so I walked around looking like a cow but it was worth it. After a while the smell of cigarettes made me nauseous during my first pregnancy.

Don't let her get discouraged if she slips up. It probably took her months even years for smoking to become a habit and it will take time and effort to quit as well. Let her vent to you when she feels like smoking but don't judge her. Just be a shoulder and she'll be fine.

I'm sorry I don't really have any good advice except to keep encouraging her. In school I had a friend that did a report on the effects of smoking while pregnant and it was so sad. It is an extremely difficult habit to stop. The very first time I became pregnant I quit cold turkey by thinking of that report. Unfortunately 10 weeks later I had a miscarriage and then started right back up. I was able to quit for good a few years later and went cold turkey that time also. Good luck to you both and congrats as well.

What she can do is go from whatever she uses to ultra lights...it's like smoking air. She needs to cut back daily to every other day. Now she shouldn't be smoking more than 10 a day. Within the next month or shortly thereafter, she should quit all together. She needs to set a goal date, realistically, and then go for it. Be sure to be done within the 1st trimester.
That's what I did 9 years ago with my 1st and I never went back.
In all honestly, if she wants what's best for the baby, she will do it. It comes down to what you really want. I have a friend that never stopped smoking, she did cut back during her pregnancy, but her baby has breathing problems.
Hope that helps! Good luck to her!!

what worked for me was just knowing that i HAD to do it. shame her into just doing it now. she can always pick it up later if she wants to, but she has to just quit now. tell her not to think of her last cigarette as the last one she'll ever smoke -- she can start up again when she's done nursing. somehow knowing that also made it easier for me.

Hi R.,

The American Cancer Society has programs for quitting smoking. Call them.

###-###-####

or the

American Lung Association ###-###-####

Hope this helps. D.

Hey R.!! Thank you for sharing your story! I'm not a smoker as well and I don't fully understand the addiction as well. But what I do know and what you can tell your sister is this. Any drug, even cigarettes, is spirit! And with her confession, she can over come this spirit of addiction over her body for her unborn baby as well. R., just have her say this confession every day...

Philippians 4:13 says, " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Have her speak to her flesh and bring it under subjection and say to her flesh, No!! You will not rule over me, i'm bringing you under subjection right now b/c my unborn baby's life is worth more than a white stick!!!!!!!!!
And every time is puts one in her month, the devil is sitting back and laughing and rejoicing because he ONLY COMES TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY!!!!!!!!! The devil knows just as much as God knows the purpose and destiny for that unborn child inside of her and the devil wants to destroy the fruit of her ground!!! THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!!!

I'm praying and believing by faith that your sister will not take another or smoke another cigarette today and for the rest of her life in the name of Jesus!! And the baby to come out healthy and strong right now in the name of Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please keep in touch with me and let me know how she's doing if you like. ____@____.com Take care R. and be blessed okay!!!!!! God has already worked it out!! Rejoice!!!!

P. :)

I used to smoke in my teen years and quit when I found out when I became pregnant. I was blessed by the fact that I couldn't smell cigarette smoke anymore and anytime I felt a craving for a cigarette I just couldn't and wouldn't pick one up. It is really hard to quit an addiction that your body is used to. Your sister doesn't only have to be mentally, but also physically prepared for the changes in her body. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known cancer-causing (carcinogenic) compounds and 400 other toxins. These include nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and DDT. As with any other type of addiction your sister will need the strong support of others who are going through the same thing. There might be some support groups in her area. I know there are some internet support groups, but I don't know how effective they are. I personally belief it is true when people say: "To quit a bad habit you must replace it with a healthy one." Advise her to start something that she feels passionate about - maybe excercising, journaling her experience, listening to music, reading a good book, cooking, or simply do some housework when she feels the urge to pick up a cigarette. And let her know to buy cigarettes and keep them in the house (somewhere hidden) will not help her quit. R., you are the best support your sisters has at this time and I admire you for your love and courage to step out and take the initiative. It will be good to know for your sister that you are not against her, but are willing to be by her side and love her no matter what. I don't know if you believe in prayer, but prayer and faith has helped me through times of hardship and I hope that you and your sister will be able to claim this as well.
T.

I myself quit during both of my pregancies and I can tell you that the more times that you do quit the harder it is every time that you try agian. I have be smoke free for 3 years now and pled with evey state to make public places smoke free. The addiction part is only one thing to over come. If she really wants it she can do it. The hardest part is finding something to do with your hands. Its a habit that develops in smokers that she needs to replace.. Hard tact candy helped one friend, tictacs, cloves but they make your mouth numb. trick is to find something cheep and low calorie and for her sake safe for baby.
I wish her luck and just be there for her. Its easy to talk about but much harder to accomplished

Cut out a picture of a cigarette and glue it on a picture of her 1st born, as if the baby is smoking it, because the second one is. Everything that goes into Momma, goes into baby, while pregnant and while breastfeeding, too. I would then find a picture of a child with Accelerated aging disease to put next to the 1st picture. Good Luck and may God help her!

Hi R.,

I have been a smoker for 14 yrs. I started at a young age, so when I started having children, I was addicted. I couldn't quit on my own, but for my first 2 children, my doctors (I had different doctors for each child) gave me prescriptions for Zyban. Zyban is approved to take while pregnant. I don't know why the doc didn't give her that. The zyban worked for me until I decided that since I wasn't pregnant, I could smoke again. My children are fine and I was able to quit while pregnant. So, if she can't quit on her own, have her check into zyban. It worked for me twice. Good luck!

She may want to discuss this with her new dr. I was on Welbuttrin while I was pregnant for depression, but it is also a med they use to help stop smoking. SO I know it is safe during pregnancy

i used to smoke, a lot! i just quit cold turkey when i found out that i was pregnant because... its just what you have to do!!! i still have an occasional one, maybe a pack a year, but never in the presence of my children.

it was HARD, very hard. cigarettes are addictive to the body and the mind. but that is just the reality of it.

you can use programs and other things... but in my view, its still a crutch. you still are relying on others. as a mother, you need to learn to depend on youself a lot. as a mother, you need to be the strong one, the pillar, the rock. and quitting cold turkey will be one of the hardest things to do, but it was prepare you also for what motherhood demands of you for the rest of your life: stregnth, discipline, and willpower.

encourage your sister. remind her to see the bigger picture. hopefully she will not choose cigarrettes above the health and well being of her child. its not only a health issue, it is an issue of being the best role model as you can be. she just has to find the stregnth within herself and she will find that she is capable of anything. she's already done it once already right?

good luck

I was a smoker the first time I got pregnant. I told my OB that I could not quit cold turkey tried too many times before I was pregnant...and I loved smoking (about a pack a day) He said the important thing was to quit by the end of the 1st trimester because after that is when smoking is the most harmful to the baby. I immediately decided I had to cut back so I cut it in 1/2 (around about)...and then took it from there after a week or 2 of that I cut back to after eating and one in the car(favorite times to smoke), and then cut from there to a 3 or 4 to 2 times a day and realized that I could do it...work her way down and mind over matter. Hope that helps.

my cousin would invision her baby smoking whever she wanted a cigarette. try that.