Twenty-one weeks is only halfway through! If you haven't stopped before, stop now, and really, it's never too late. Smoking around a child is dangerous, too, so if you can't give up now, at least try to stop before s/he is born.
Yes do everything to give up not just for the sake of your baby but your own health. My father was a hospital scientist who had to analyse the lung tissue from smokers and they were all in a bad state - but if you stop now there is a chance your lungs can recover. You could be at risk of lung cancer otherwise.
Also my daughter's preschool teacher smoked during pregnancy and her daughter suffered with having crossed-eyes which had to be operated on and still not fully recovered afterwards. You surely do not want to harm your baby or you would not have asked this question.
Do all you can to give up - neither during pregnancy or at any other time of your child's life is smoking a safe option. Try to find out the reasons why you smoke and replace the need for it with an alternative that is safer and better for you.
ok we all know smoking isnt good for you but when i was pregnant my doctor informed me that it is better to continue smoking if you will be overstressed by giving it up. try to stick to under ten a day.. he told me. your baby may be born a slighly lower weight but they do catch up. my daughter is the tallest in her class. and super healthy
as everyone else has said smoking = bad lol but also think when he/she is born if you stop smoking now you wont be smoking when they are born which is better for everyone :)
Smoking through pregnancy can lead to miscarriage (although you aren't at risk of that at this stage), pre-term birth, stillbirth and low birth weight. It can also increase the chances of asthma and other health ailments in the child, as well as increase the chance of cot death. Good luck in cutting back/quitting.
Smoking during pregnancy increases the chances of placenta previa and abruptio placentae which can result in late pregnancy miscarriage; especially if gone undectected as usually this is not picked up until the 20th-ish week scan.
Thanks, I couldn't remember the tech names! It can also cause blood clots to form in the baby resulting in many conditions from autism to deformation of the baby as well as death. Even though most babies survive the affects of pregnancy smoking there is a lot that scientist still don't know about smoking and it's affects on unborn babies.
I'm reminded of a girl I went to high school with her mum took ectasy when she was pregnant with her and as a result of that her daughters hand was deformed, she had from memory 3 fingers and a thumb 2 fingers were attached. She suffer a social stigma because of it. Smoking can cause similar events to happen.
I use to know all that but since being on the anti depressants I'm having trouble with my recall.....related perhaps? I don't know, it took me 2 days to remember it was undercover wear not intimo! Ridiculous! I'm so fustrated with it. I never had an issue with my recall until I stop taking the damn things!
Actually that's not true, smoking can cause blood clots to form in the placenta or at the connection of placenta and uterine wall resulting in miscarriage at any stage during a pregnancy. As mentioned even dramatically reducing the number of cigarettes and the MG that are smoked will be a huge benefit to both and dramatically reduce the risk of miscarriage.
If you are finding it difficult to quit, even cutting back now will be beneficial. I am a smoker, I smoked through my pregnancy! I attempted to quit many times and was unsuccessful, but i did cut back dramatically from 30 a day to 5-10 a day. I had a healthy 9pound 6ounce 52cm baby who at 3yrs is now 18kg and 115cm and is extremely intelligent. He has suffered many ear infections but they a becoming less and less frequent and he has no other health issues apart from he occasional cold or bout of gastro but all kids get that! Some doctors will even suggest that cutting back your daily intake may be more beneficial than quitting cold turkey due to the stress it can cause. Speak to your doctor about quitting permantly and as raven has suggesed quitline has some fantastic advice. Until you and your doctor decide on a plan for you at least try and cut back.
I agree smoking is definitely bad for both you & your un-born baby.
Time to stop now...within 4 days of stopping your body will start to repair damage done to your liver & lungs and in return your babies body will have a chance to repair any damage.
If your finding it hard to quit, visit with your doctor....the Australian Government has quit programs running through doctors that are free...with great success.
Yes it's really bad. The chemicals in cigarettes causes low birth weights, poor lung function in the baby, jaundice and and other liver dysfuctions in the baby. It also increases the risk of miscarriage and pregnancy bleeding plus it may contribute to some brain dysfunction and disorders.
After birth it can cause asthma and asthma type conditions.
It is never too late to stop in pregnancy. By stopping now your baby will be able to repair any damage done to it's body as your baby is in the growth stage.
Contact the quit helpline or check out their website if you live in Aussie (check it out anyway as it has great tips on how to quit successfully)
I'm a smoker and I did smoke when I was pregnant however I was lucky and both my girls were born healthy. I do think it's best if you can quit altogether but I know how hard that can be. If you can cut down I think that would be the next best thing to quitting. Good luck!! Louise
do stop smoking but do it gradually. as your baby has been breathing and living wiht the nicotine for the 21 wks, he/ she has become dependant on it. if you do not wish to have the baby suffer from nicotine dependancy at birth, then reduce till a full stop. However stopping radually is important so that you ween the baby off the nicotine as wel as yourself. Unortunatly yuo have been smoking through the first trimester, and that is when the most important features of the baby's body is developed, eg the brain, heart and lungs. in the second trimeser its the arms, legs ets and in the third al the devloped parts are perfected and grow to a size that will allow the baby to survive outside the womb. Any child psychology book or development book will help as well
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