Nearly everyone knows that smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your health, if not the worst. Only you can make the decision to give up, but when a baby is on the way or you want one to be, that imperative is made much stronger.
Why?
Babies born to mothers (and fathers) who smoke are often a lower birth weight, may have lung difficulties, have an increased risk of cot death and may have genetic abnormalities such as a cleft lip, among other difficulties. And if that isn't enough incentive to try to stop, think about yourself. Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more prone to placental problems, blood clotting, ectopic pregnancy (where the foetus begins to grow in a fallopian tube), miscarriage, stillbirth, thrush and urinary tract infections such as cystitis.
When?
Ideally, parents should aim to prepare for pregnancy three to six months before they begin to try for a child. Measures such as reducing alcohol consumption, improving diet, taking folate supplements and — yes — quitting smoking should be put into place. Of course, not all pregnancies are planned and if you find that you are expecting a baby and you smoke, the best thing to do is to give up immediately. It does not have to be a matter of "all or nothing": the simple fact is that the fewer cigarettes you smoke during your pregnancy, the better. If you slip up and have one cigarette, it is better than never believing you can succeed and continuing to smoke all the way through your pregnancy. If you don't smoke at all, even better still.
How?
Willpower is likely to be a powerful factor in helping a pregnant woman to give up smoking. Certainly some nicotine replacement products have not been categorically tested on pregnant woman: it is not entirely clear whether they are safe to use without harming the foetus. So, gear up and follow our totally natural tips for giving up the evil weed.
- Get support
Get your partner to help you to overcome your urges, and particularly in the first few months when you don't want to share your news with others. If he smokes, encourage him to also give up — but don't wait for him if he is dragging his heels. Enlist his help in breaking out of your old routines — if you normally have a cigarette after getting off the bus, ask him to pick you up in the car for a week or two instead; if you normally smoke when sitting down after dinner, get him to make the food instead so that you are occupied with clearing the dishes. Nobody around? Ring Quitline for advice and support: their number is 13 7848. They'll also send you a self-help pack.
- Exercise
If you're not used to any form of vigorous physical exercise (such as running), pregnancy is probably not the time to start. But there's absolutely no reason why you can't go for walks, go swimming or even take up yoga to help you beat those cigarette cravings — even if you're unfit to start with. As soon as you feel those urges, put on your kit and get going — you'll be doubly healthy for exercising and quitting smoking, making labour and the later stages of pregnancy that much easier to cope with.
- Avoid smoky places
It probably goes without saying that you don't want to be in smoky places when you are pregnant, and particularly if you are trying to give up smoking. If you must be around friends and family who smoke, arrange to meet them in open spaces or courtyard cafes, so any smoke around has at least a chance to disperse. Or entertain them at your home, and ban smoking inside the house.
- Don't drink alcohol
One of the main reasons why smokers fail to give up is because they have a few too many drinks and let their guard down. Fortunately, drinking is also a no-no in pregnancy. Avoiding pubs and hotels is a good way of retraining your body not to want cigarettes. Try and get your partner to quit as well — this is not just your child, so it shouldn't just be you who's feeling deprived.
- The jam jar trick
Put a few cigarettes in a jar and fill it half-full of water before putting the lid on it. Imagine the result as your lungs, and look at it each time you crave a cigarette. It may go some way to putting you off.
- Think of your baby
Many pregnant women find that the biggest psychological deterrent to smoking is just thinking of their unborn child. Often, and particularly in the first trimester, they can think of nothing but their child — feelings of nausea that just don't go away are not conducive to wanting a cigarette.
- Feel better about yourself
Preparing yourself for pregnancy is not just about giving birth: it is also about the confidence to have the courage of your convictions and to be able to lead your life the way you want to, and to be able to lead your child by example. According to a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services, many ex-smokers have found that they are more confident of their life skills, mainly because they have taken control away from an addiction. The report also mentions that they are more able to make further positive improvements to their lives after having given up smoking. Think of a guilt-free life, and put that cigarette down.
- Count the cost
Smoking is an expensive habit as well as a dangerous one. At this stage in your life you are likely to need as much money as you can get: babies are expensive and you're likely to be off work for longer than your paid maternity leave. Keep the money you save to one side and put it towards a special treat for you and your partner, or preparing for the arrival of your child. Watching it add up is a great mental incentive to kick the cigs.
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