Should we quit smoking while thinking about the baby in our womb? (Smoking During Pregnancy)

If you are a mother- to-be, this is the most important time in your life. During this time, you have to think twice about your health, as well as the health of the little one growing in your womb. If you have a smoking habit, let's talk about how it affects both you and your baby. This is not an accusation, but a loving reminder.

How does smoking affect the baby in the womb?

When you smoke a cigarette, the addictive chemical nicotine , dangerous gases like carbon monoxide , and thousands of other toxins enter your bloodstream. These toxins travel through your bloodstream and go directly to your baby without any hindrance. It's like giving your baby poison.

Let's take a look at what can happen from smoking during pregnancy.

The important thing is that the more cigarettes you smoke per day, the greater the risk to your baby. There is no "safe level" of smoking during pregnancy. Even one cigarette is harmful.

Is secondhand smoke dangerous?

Yes, definitely. Even if you don't smoke, if your husband, a family member, or someone at work smokes near you, it is also very harmful to the baby. We call this passive smoking (secondhand smoke) .

Surprisingly, the amount of toxic substances (tar, carbon monoxide , nicotine) emitted from the end of a burning cigarette is higher than the smoke inhaled by the smoker. Therefore, inhaling other people's cigarette smoke also causes all of the risks mentioned above.

Even after birth, children exposed to this type of smoke are more likely to develop illnesses such as frequent chest congestion, ear infections, allergies, and asthma.

How can I protect my baby from this smoke?

• Do not allow anyone to smoke inside the house.
• Stop smoking inside the car completely.
• If there is someone who smokes, ask them to go outside and smoke. If possible, have a special jacket that they wear during those times and ask them to leave it outside when they come home.
• Completely stop going to places where smoking is allowed (for example, bars, some restaurants) during this time.

What can you do to break this habit?

Smoking is an addiction. We know that it is not easy to quit it all at once. But you need to find the strength to do this for the sake of your baby. Talk to your doctor about this . He or she will give you the advice and support you need for this.

Here are some things that might help you:

• Hide your matches, lighters, and ashtrays out of sight.
• Make your home a "no smoking" zone.
• Kindly ask others not to smoke around you.
• Reduce your intake of caffeinated beverages like coffee. These can stimulate the urge to smoke. Avoid drinking alcohol at all costs. It is also harmful to the baby and encourages smoking.
• Identify the times when you feel the urge to smoke. For example, when you're angry or driving. Find something else to do instead.
• Keep some chewing gum (sugarless is best) or mints nearby. Pop it in your mouth whenever you feel the urge to smoke.
• Go for a walk, exercise , read a book, start a new hobby. Distract yourself.
• Surround yourself with people who support you. Join a group with others who are trying to break this habit.

What about nicotine replacement?

There are things like nicotine gum or nicotine patches. These provide a small amount of nicotine to the body without smoking, reducing the desire to smoke and the withdrawal symptoms that occur when you stop.

However, there is still not enough research on how safe these are for pregnant women. Therefore, do not use them for any reason without consulting your doctor. Doctors usually recommend them only if other methods, such as counseling, have failed, but only after carefully considering the potential risks to the baby and the benefits of quitting smoking.

What feelings do you have after quitting smoking?

You will start to feel the benefits of quitting smoking within a few days. Your and your baby's heart rate will return to normal. The risk of your baby having breathing difficulties will decrease.

However, because your body is used to nicotine, you may experience some discomfort when you stop.

• Strong craving for cigarettes
• Getting angry for no reason
• Feeling very hungry
• Frequent coughing
• Headache
• Difficulty concentrating

Sometimes you may feel like smoking again. That's normal. Most people try several times to completely break the habit. Don't give up just because you smoked one cigarette by mistake. Start fresh. Plan ahead for the next time you feel the urge.