Need to quit

mizzbiz

PS I don;t agree with the avoiding triggers thing. It's better to get used to not smoking in those situations rather than avoiding them altogether. About two months after we quit we went on holiday to Spain. That was a mohoosive trigger for me, as I used to love chilling on the hot beach with a smoke (lol). I'm not going to avoid going on holiday but I do admit my cravings came back and if I was going to cave, that would have been when I did. But I didn't and I don't think I'll suffer on holiday again. Everything is a trigger, holidays, nights out, eating a meal, going in your back garden, having a swim. Deal with the triggers head on, don't avoid!!

indebtinsussex

we tried cutting down and it never worked, so cold turkey was the only way we could do it. we had a pot where we put the cig money in, it was amazing how much it built up so quickly, and was a really good incentive to keep going, and we also avoided going into the normal shops we would go into. and chewing gum became my best friend for about 3 months!

dh also used the alan carr (I think thats him) book to help keep him motivated.

j.e.j.

Good on you for trying, apparently it takes 21 days to form a habit. (Not sure how true that is, - I managed a couple of weeks without sugary snacks, but then went back to them. I am a sugar ADDICT :rotfl:)

It WILL get easier, but you have to really want to do it.

heretolearn_2

i also think it's easier to just go cold turkey and quit, than cut down. So if you really want to do it, just do it.

Expect a few really awful days, then a few difficult weeks, then a much easier time of it.

Your baby's health should be a strong enough motivation even if you don't want to quit for yourself. You know the dangers already so I won't repeat them for you, but smoking definitely hurts your baby, and I'm sure you don't want to do that.

Get yourself a baby's savings pot and put your cigarette money in there instead. Add up how much you can save over the months - that's going to buy you some lovely things for the nursery and babe.

Don't just think of the baby - you are doing this for YOU as well! You'll soon feel so much better; you'll breathe more easily (and you'll appreciate that once babe is squishing everything up inside you), your taste buds will revive and you'll enjoy food more, your skin will improve (most smokers have a sort of grey look to them), you won't smell bad any more (and after you stop you won't believe how awful smokers smell, even if you still like the smell of cigarettes themselves), and you'll be healthier.

It's all win-win with no downside other than a short time of being grumpy and having some cravings.

You can do it!

tattycath

I quit when I got pregnant as I 'went off them'-luckily for me and baby. I did start smoking again (rather stupidly) about 7 years later. I have stopped and started a few times. I last stopped for Stoptober - I haven't had a cigarette since 30th September. It takes sheer determination and willpower. I went cold turkey. Other members of my family smoke but at the beginning of my quest I used to occupy myself-do crafts, jobs around the house, go for a bath, eat. . .etc etc all things to take my mind off the cravings. It's much easier now I've been stopped a month - much better financially too. You could also read up on the damage smoking does as an extra deterrent-good luck.

TeamLowe

i quit cold turkey after a doctor gave me the warning that i might not wake up after an operation if hadn't stopped smoking six weeks before-scared straight i suppose you could say! left the hospital and threw away the full pack i had. so i don't have any actual experience of 'trying' to quit BUT i do know of people who have successfully quit and these seem to be two good tips that have helped that haven't been mentioned:-

-find something you can pretend to smoke. i think nicorette have an inhaler but i know of one guy who got some twigs and cut them down to cigarette size and put them in an empty pack so he had the whole 'feeling' if you get me.also helped him to stop buying more as he already had a 'pack' on him

-one friend just kept in mind that the actually, physical cravings only last two minutes (or so he said, it's a short amount of time like that), so when he did feel a craving he knew it would pass and/or distracted himself for those two minutes. and that it takes either 2 or 4 weeks for any substance to leave your body. after that there's no phyiscal dependency. so just think OP, if you quit now by your first scan you could proudly say 'i am a non-smoker' and not have to worry about it for the rest of your pregnancy x x

dippydooda

I am about 6 weeks pregnant too and found out last week. I had my last cig the day before I did the test, i don't know why but I didn't have another, not had one since. It's hard to explain but it felt unnatural and like i know deeo down I really shouldn't do it. So it's been 9 days now and i do still fancy one sometimes, but I have changed some of my routines, instead of having once first thing in the morning, I will hop straight into the shower. My partner now smokes outside too so that does make it easier.
So I guess just try altering your routines, maybe stock up on nice fruit or sweets- i know we are meanta be eating healthy but sweets gotta be better than fags! Loads of luck, must be really stressful x

zcrat41

I want to say well done you for cutting down. If you've maanged that you've done so well you'll be able to give up.

Just be careful buying the patches before 12 weeks - if the NHS won't prescribe them check it's not for a reason.

Chew gum like it's going out of fashion.

Drink loads of squash.

Accept that you'll be a grumpy horrible hormonal mess. (At least you can blame it on the pg!) NOthing wrong with staying in your pj's for a weekend eating chocolate!


Best of luck.

kloana

OP, have you asked your GP/health professional whether or not it's safe to smoke an 'e-cig' whilst pregnant?

mrshappy

Well done on asking for help-not always easy!
I quit 12 weeks ago using the niquitin mini lozenges and can't recommend them enough-a friend suggested I used them as they had also worked for her, so they are worth trying.
Most of the chemists here in Scotland have a smoke free pharmacy programme where they provide NRT on a weekly basis, also most maternity units/ante natal clinics have a smoking cessation midwife available, I don't think you need to wait until your booking appointment to contact her. Smoking cessation groups are also run all over the place, your GP reception should be able to point you in the right direction.
Since quitting I have taken up crochet to keep my hands busy.
I have also got an app on my phone which tells me how many days since I quit, how many cigarettes I have avoided and how much I have saved.
It's not easy, wishing you all the best.