Whether you are pregnant or not pregnant, quitting smoking can be extremely hard to do but it is very important to try and quit smoking once you find out that you are pregnant. There is no better time to quit smoking than when you are pregnant because it is motive to do the right thing, not only for you but for the baby as well. The good news is that you do not have to do this alone. There are plenty of tips, tricks and suggestions to keep your motivated and give you strength to give up for good!
How smoking during pregnancy affects you and your baby
Did you know cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including things like cyanide, lead and at least 60 cancer-causing compounds? When you smoke while pregnant, the toxic brew gets into your bloodstream which in your baby’s only source of oxygen and nutrients. Studies have shown that cigarette smoke is the number one cause of adverse outcomes for babies.
How Smoking Effects the Baby
Every cigarette that you smoke increases the risk of your pregnancy. A shortage of oxygen can have serious effects on your baby’s growth and development. On average, smoking during pregnancy doubles the chances that a baby will be born too early and doubles the risk of stillbirth. See below for other imperative effects smoking as on your baby.
- Lowers the amount of oxygen available to you and your growing baby.
- Increases risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
- Increase your baby’s heart rate.
- Increase the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth.
- Increase the risk that your baby is born prematurely and/or born with low birth weight.
- Increase your baby’s risk of developing respiratory (lung) problems.
- The baby being born with a cleft lip or cross-eyes
- The baby being born with weaker lungs, which may persist into adulthood
- The baby having a weaker immune system
- The baby being overweight or obese in childhood
It is important to remember that there is no “safe” level of smoking while pregnant. It is so important to try and quit and that is why we would like to provide you different options to help you quit.
Different Methods to Help you quit
Pregnancy is definitely a huge incentive to quit but it can also narrow your choices of how you go about quitting. You might not want to quit cold turkey because the stress levels can affect your baby but you also have to be careful while pregnant with the different medication and patches that are on the market. Below we have listed the different options you will have to help you quit smoking, along with the pros and cons of each.
- Cold Turkey- Obviously quitting smoking during pregnancy will benefit you and your baby right away but it could be the hardest way to go. You will immediately stop exposing your baby to the nicotine and carbon monoxide which is the objective. The side effects may be rough as you can expect to experience depression, anxiety and weird cravings.
- Quitting Gradually– When you quit gradually, your body will adjust itself with dealing with the cravings of nicotine. As long as you do it quickly enough, the method can still be safe for the baby. Doctors have said that as long as you are not smoking anymore by 14 weeks pregnant, the baby shouldn’t have been harmed from the nicotine. But if you’re still smoking AT ALL after that point you could be opening the door to complications. Remember, those last couple of cigarettes may be especially hard to give up. And until you quit completely, you’re still endangering your baby and yourself.
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy- Nicotine Replacement therapy is a treatment to help people stop smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine but the treatment does not contain the toxins found in the actual smoke. Products of NRT include patches, gum, lozenges, micro tabs (small tablets) and nasal sprays. The goal of NRT is to cut down on cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. We suggest seeing your health care provider before purchasing and using any of the above products, as there can be side effects from the treatment.
- Acupuncture- Acupuncture is not only a solution to quit smoking while pregnant but in fact a lot of pregnant women use acupuncture to help relieve a number of pregnancy symptoms. Many people credit acupuncture for pregnancy symptoms including; swelling in legs, heartburn, and constipation and of course to quit smoking. It is covered by most insurance but if not covered, it typically costs between $65 and $100 per session.
- Counseling- Counseling doesn’t mean that you have to go to a psychiatrist to help you quit. It may be as simple speaking with a close friend who experienced quitting while pregnant as well or words of encouragement from your doctor. Tell everyone you know that you’re quitting. This will help make you feel accountable for your decision, and you will get A TON of positive encouragement and feedback from those around you.They also have many support groups on line that you can join to help you connect with soon to be mothers going through the same cravings and withdrawals as you will be going through. A support group or even a session or two with a counselor may help you to stay focused and motivated. Talking to someone can help to lower your stress levels, as well as address patterns of thoughts and behavior through the process.
Throughout your pregnancy you will go through more criticism and receive more advice then you have in your whole life! There is a certain stigma associated with pregnant smokers which in turn prevents women to tell their doctors about their smoking habits. Did you know that twenty to thirty percent of pregnant smokers don’t tell their caregivers they smoke until they are in their second trimester? It is so important to tell your doctor at the first visit because he will be able to recommend different methods that will work within your certain lifestyle. The different options of quitting that we listed above apply to the general population, and each individual is different. The success of you quitting while pregnant will be determined by the strength of your support network and your motivation level to do what is best for your baby and yourself.
