Smoking

Ok - I don't want to offend anyone or anything like that but I was just out on my break and there was a woman outside my building smoking and she is visibly pregnant. I see her out there quite a bit and the last time I wondered if she might have been carrying but couldn't tell at that stage. She has definately popped now though. I don't get why people continue to smoke while pregnant...
Someone I know smoked right through her pregnancy and was VERY defensive about it. She said that it was too hard for her to stop that her midwife told her that it would have been more damaging to the baby for her to go through the stress of trying to quit than for her to continue smoking - but to try and cut down.
Is there anyone on here that smokes and can confirm this? I am not a smoker - I am just curious and do not mean to be getting on a soap box or anything like that - purely curious - thanks

My SIL said the same thing! "Its more damaging if I quit now that my baby is used to it...." What a crock. I asked both my midwife & my doctor and they both said its not true. But they also said that if the mum finds it too hard to give up, if they at least "cut down" then that is a small small help. I was a smoker & I quit. It wasn't that hard & I used to be a pack a day smoker. Admittedly my partner doesn't smoke so I didn't have the temptation but alot of my friends still smoke & I don't regret giving up. AND I don't plan on starting up again ever. Its been over two years now.

I was totally in love with smoking before I got pregnant. Isn't that just disgusting - but it's true. I was never a heavy smoker - usually 3 or so a day, always after work, but I tell you what, it has been the hardest thing for me to get used to not having. My favourite thing ever was to get home from work, pour myself a glass of wine, sit on the balcony and smoke a cig, drink my wine and chat to Jono about my day. I felt as though I'd 'earned it'. Being so sick during pregnancy has made it slightly easier to be smokefree - slightly I say, because when I don't feel sick I crave it something shocking. I can't say if I will stay smokefree once I have finished b/feeding, but I do know if I hadn't been able to do what I have done, then my baby would have suffered - no two ways about it. Now I can look forward to a healthy baby, who at this stage already weighs around 7lb 5oz (according to the scan).

Shelley I am the same as you, I looooved smoking but quit as soon as we were TTC. I still (over 2 years later) really miss it sometimes!!! Made hubby give up at the same time too, hehehehe

I to gave up as soon as i found out i was pregnant with Blair and didn't start agin until i had stopped BF him, and the same with the twins. Everyone says to me why did you start again and as stupid as it may sound but i gave up because i was pregnant and wanted a healthy baby not because i was ready to give up for myself. I missed it heaps more after i had the twins then with Blair, but not sure why. I remember when i was in hospital after i had Blair and there was a lady in labour having a smoke and i rmemeber thinking how can you smoke while you are in labour, but i guess if you have smoked through your pregnancy then you gona crave it when in labour

Good on you all for giving up, you should be proud of yourelves

i started smoking at 13 and gave up as soon as i knew i was pregnant and like kas didnt start again till i stopped bf when monkey bum was 13months, i didnt mean to start again i went out felt like one with a drink and here i am spending my hard earned money on them sigh....Caitlyns 4 in june and i want to quit, im not the type to be able to quit cold turkey and so am weaning myself off them.....i'll let u know how im going in june

When i was pregnant i lived with heaps of pregnant smokers at bethany and one was on 2 packs a week-she said to me once "i think my baby likes it cos she kicks more" no sweetheart its trying to kick all those nasty poisins away.
We were due the same day (had them a day apart) and i was pretty small by the end of pregnancy whereas she was huge-the staff said i would have a small baby and she'd have a big one
WELLL mine was 7ibs13ozs hers 5ibs3ozs
My delivery-VERY straightforward-no painrelief,45 mins of pushing and bobs ur uncle (or peter might be)
hers -heartbeat moniter showed the baby repeatedly in distress, ventouse delivery
We shared a room at birthcare and that poor baby cried all the time becoz it was so addicted to the nicotine-and as soon as she was bought in she put bubs in the crib and asked me if i could watch her while she went for a smoke! i was too shocked to say anything!


my mates a nurse and when she did her placement at nicu she said there were heaps of babies addicted to p and heroin etc...no offense to anyone but i think its selfish and ignorant-u decide to keep the baby u make sure its start to life is as healthy as possible

sorry bout the rant

I did know of a girl years ago (around 9 years ago) whose midwife apparently told her to give up would cause more stress so to just cut back.

I personally don't agree with it at all but then I am VERY anti-smoking - sorry peeps but I admit I am one of those that would happily see it banned in all public places! I hate walking to the mall or where ever and everyone is congregated outside and I always get a face full of smoke.

Went to get a warrant last week and this guy sat down not 1 metre from me and lit up.....it just annoys me becuase I am so worried about protecting the health of my baby.

It is possible to give up if you have the willpower and determination and before anyone says anything, yes I do know from personal experience because i used to be a pack a day girl.

Good on everyone who has given up and to the people who haven't....keep trying...it is so worth it for you and your child!

Leish i wonder if its the same person i knew lol i knew someone that said that same thing about smoking through her pregnancy. I have seen more than one woman do it and unfortunately have health issues with their children now not only that but their babies are really small!!

Not a fan of smoking either, used to do it on a casual basis, but even that went out the window as soon as we found out. It was one of the things that really pissed me off about our ex-flattie, and even though she's long gone now you can still smell it in the room