Do you want to quit smoking while pregnant? There are lots of good reasons to quit, both for your health and the health of your baby. This page will review what you need to know about how to quit smoking while pregnant.
Pregnant Smokers
This video from the Cleveland Clinic discusses the risks involved in smoking while pregnant. The video also discusses research that found that women who quit cigarette smoking by the 15th week of their pregnancies reduce their risk of premature birth and low birth weight babies to that of women who had not smoked prior to getting pregnant.
Introduction
If you're a smoker, you may have been trying to quit for years. Smoking is an addiction, and it is not easy to quit. In order to quit smoking while pregnant, you'll need to get motivated to quit and know what methods you can use to help you stop smoking cigarettes. Ideally, you'll quit early in your pregnancy.
Step 1: Get Motivated
Smoking can cause health problems for both the mother and baby. Learning about the dangers of smoking while pregnant may b ethe motivation you need to be able to quit.
- Smoking reduces the oxygen available to you and your baby.http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/smoking-during-pregnancy
- Smoking increases your baby's heart rate.http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/smoking-during-pregnancy
- Women who smoke during pregnancy have an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth.http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/smoking-during-pregnancy
- Babies born to smokers are at risk of low birth weight.http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/smoking-during-pregnancy
- Smoking during pregnancy is associated with babies with a higher risk of respiratory problems after birth.http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/smoking-during-pregnancy
Second hand smoke also affects the developing fetus, so if your partner is a smoker you may want to encourage them to join you as you attempt to quit.http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/smoking-during-pregnancy
Step 2: Start Early
The sooner in your pregnancy you quit, the better it is for you and your baby. Nature may help you along in the process. Some women who experience morning sickness finds that smoking makes their nausea worse. If you are one of them, use this time to help you quit.http://lomalindahealth.org/health-library/a-z-health-guide/1/003119.htm
Step 3: Safe Methods to Quit Smoking While Pregnant
Nicotine gum and patches help many people quit smoking, but their safety has not been tested in pregnant women. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggest that they only be used after all other methods have failed.http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/smoking-during-pregnancy Consider trying these tips and techniques to help you quit:
- Have your partner hide your cigarettes and lighters
- Develop new routines for times that you usually have a cigarette
- Chew gum and mints
- Avoid smokers and places where you are apt to be exposed to smoke
- Tell people you're trying to quit and ask for help
