This email was in my inbox the other day. I thought it was a good bit of info for anyone trying to stop smoking cigarettes:
I am 4 months pregnant. I have been smoking for about 10 years, pack a day. I tried the “cut down” method. I am around 5-10 a day now, but I cant get below that. So, I am going to do it cold turkey. I really don’t want to go through the trouble of quitting because my emotions are already shot, but it must be done. I would love to be able to lock myself in my bedroom for about a week. I quit before for about 4 months, cold turkey. Then all it took was a weekend of parties and I was right back smoking again. I know I CAN do it, it’s just maintaining the will power to stop. I have heard that the physical addiction is only about 3 days of the quitting, and that the rest is habit and psychological addiction. IF this is true then I can just plan on three days to freedom from physical addiction, correct? And then, they say, 28 days to make or break the habit. This one I believe. After a month of not smoking before when I did it, I felt strange even holding one. It felt foreign.
What I’m trying to say is, if you have a good enough reason to quit, like me, you can do it. Just plan on a month of struggle!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
You have a baby on the way and you’re still smoking? Just stop for the baby. Shouldn’t that be enough motivation to help you quit?
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October 27th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
See your doctor .. there is a new drug called Chantix. But your Dr. will have to tell you if you can take while prego.
Good luck, I know this is not easy.
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October 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Just do what you did when you first quit. This time..just don’t end up going back to smoking. Do it for the baby’s sake and for your’s.
Just please try to be done smoking by the time your baby is born! His life is in your hands!
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October 27th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
good for you, sounds like you are doing the right thing, congratulations
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October 27th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
just tell yourself this
"I DO NOT WANT TO KILL MY BABY, SO I MUST STOP"
unless you want your baby to be born with poor health, then smoke.
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October 27th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
oh my god you’re right you do HAVE to stop, you’re pregnant. why are you even partying when you’re pregnant?? ahhhhh yes quit cold turkey immediately! good luck to you!
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October 27th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
well, just think about how much you can f*ck your baby up if you don’t stop…I mean do you want to be that parent who didn’t think they were important enough to? is that what you want to tell them? that alone should give you the reason and the will to stop.
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October 27th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Heres a tip….
EAT EAT AND EAT….
that should stop and if it doesnt yell at the cigarettes.."damn you you cigarettes!!"
Hehe
=]
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October 27th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
frazzle snazzle bleeble blabble stop smoking
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October 27th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
you can do it, you can do it, good luck
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October 27th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Well at least you are trying (a lot of people don’t even try)
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October 27th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
just make sure there are none so there is no temptation or seek professional help cause smoking and being pregnant is serous.
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October 27th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Just think about the baby and its health. I’ll be praying for you and your baby.
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October 27th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
just think about how your doing it for your baby, that should make it a little easier
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October 27th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I know that sometimes its just motivation that can get people to quit. I work in a hospital, and I have seen people who have smoked for 30+years, get told they have COPD or cancer and they quit that day. A baby is a good reason to quit. Good luck to you and just believe in yourself you can do it!
***EDIT***
And don’t let comments "Oh your hurting your baby..etc…" You know that..and that’s why you have your concerns. My mother smoked with all 3 of her kids..in a time when they honestly didn’t know better, and we are all healthy individuals.
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October 27th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
YOU sound like a baby. stop hurting your unborn child
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October 28th, 2009 at 12:15 am
GO YOU!
You’ll be soooooo much healthier and happier once you get through it.
Be strong, be brave, and remember that your baby’s will one day appreciate it.
Smoking mom’s look irresponsible. You’ll be so proud of yourself.
Way to go!
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October 28th, 2009 at 1:02 am
there is a type of acupuncture u get in your left ear it un-addicts smoking or u could always get nicotine tabs.
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October 28th, 2009 at 1:44 am
ok i didnt read anything you wrote past i am 4 months so doesnt the thought of a little baby, soon to be actual person living inside you, that you could take the life of by smoking, at all convince you to stop…. think about it….. by now your baby has fingernails,…… FINGERNAILS!
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October 28th, 2009 at 2:34 am
ask a friend to help you. stay with them and quit cold turkey. think about how your hurting your baby every time you get the urge. & also tape a sonogram(sp?) of your baby on the box of cigarette’s so every time you pick them up to smoke it will remind you how much your hurting your unborn child. personally, i dont believe that its the nicotine thats additive, i believe its all in peoples head. you were told it was addicting, which made it become addicting. if you really truely want to quit. you could. will power. i know you can do it!
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October 28th, 2009 at 2:44 am
well you say you know what’s best for your baby. do everything you can.
cuz what you are breathing is what your baby breathes.
I don’t know if these places work, but there is hypnosis, and tox places where they can clean out your system of nicotine.
Otherwise…just keep trying. Find alternatives! The main thing is the air you breathe – even though you cant cut the nicotine out completely.
And to the person saying FINGERNAILS – hAHA did you watch Juno?
All babies want to be borned!
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October 28th, 2009 at 3:33 am
ok, so this sounds stupid, but I bought the book "how to quit somking the easy way" and read it….and didn’t quit…..I then gave it to a friend, who quit cold turkey after reading the book, then gave the book to another who also quit….long story short….12 people have quit with my book..(except me)…I think it is worth a shot at less than 15.00. Good luck!!
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October 28th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Quitting can be one of the hardest things that you’ll ever do. I’m glad that you are trying and as per your request, I won’t load on any advice. I’m glad that your modivation is your baby’s health (as well as your own) so if you ever feel even the slightest bit discouraged, just try to remember why you’re going through all of this and you’ll be grateful when your healthy child comes into the world.
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October 28th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Just think every time you even pick up a fag imagine the consequences and damage to your baby! If thats not enough to help you quit then I dont know what is.
GOOD LUCK with everything
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October 28th, 2009 at 5:10 am
It is good that you want to quit.
You don’t want any of those diseases and being pregnant your baby is at risk.
I know you can stop!
Make sure you don’t go anywhere where there is smoking, you may be tempted.
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October 28th, 2009 at 5:55 am
Good luck and congratulations on your baby! You are going to be a wonderful mommy and you can always tell your child how s/he helped you get healthier from the get-go just by coming to live inside you for a few months!
Try hard to focus on what you are gaining not on what you are giving up. Just doing your Lamaze breathing will be so much easier not smoking.
Take walks, chew gum, drink long tall cool drinks with a straw, and above all, look at those books with the fantastic photos of what your baby looks like right now, and this week and next week and so on– you can do this!!!
You are a hero and your baby is a lucky one.
God bless you both.
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October 28th, 2009 at 6:38 am
What’s "awesome" about your question is all the justifications you listed for not being able to quit smoking in the past, despite your PREGNANCY.
It’s more mental than physical…this I know from experience…and I have a highly addictive personality. Coincidentally…I also have a highly controlling personality…and I refuse to let myself be controlled by a substance.
SO…if your goal is to GAMBLE on your baby’s health and aim for a lower birth weight..then puff away by all means.
If not…quit cold turkey and call it a freakin’ day cuz anyone that’s not strong enough to do that probably isn’t ready for children.
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October 28th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Just stick with it. When i quit i would never go in the store at the gas station always pay at the pump so your not tempted. Put a picture of what old smoky lungs look like on the dashboard of your car to remind you, or even better yet put a ultrasound picture of your baby, to remind you why you need to just hold out. I have read that most cravings only last 5-10 minutes, so just remember before you think you need one make yourself wait 10 minutes before seriously considering it. This is the hardest thing to quit, keep with it just take it one hour at a time if you have to but if you really want to quit i’m sure you can do it. Just keep yourself bussy till about day10 and youll make it.
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October 28th, 2009 at 7:50 am
about chantix.. it gives you abnormal dreams and when my mom was on it, she seemed drunk almost but it does work because it bonds tot he chemicals in your brain before the nicotine making you actually not want to smoke.
but also a helpful little thing.
have you ever tasted orange juice and cigerettes
or toothpaste and cigerettes
its actually proven to help people quit if you brush your teeth or drink a glass of orange juice before you go to smoke because you will hate the taste and not want to do it again
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October 28th, 2009 at 7:55 am
I like to quit things cold turkey. Its kind of like self-torture, but the pain reminds you of why you’re doing it. After you quit you can think back on how hard it was to quit and feel good that you made it through a painful time all by yourself. It shocks people when they find out you’ve quit(if they know you’re a smoker). Think of it as an opportunity to show your strength.
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October 28th, 2009 at 8:11 am
So ,stop smoking. "grow up" . choose not to smoke. think of your child growing inside your smoke filled body
I used to smoke 2 packs a day and quit from one day to the next. i simply decided to grow up and not do it. it is all about integrity. not will power but integrity. YOU, you CAN do it.
do it for your beautiful child. do it for your own self respect.
you do not need to use the silly patches and gimmicks and pills. they just cost a lot of money and make the pharmaceuticals and doctors very rich. and think of all the money you will save. $5 a day thats $150.- a month. that will buy lots of diapers for a health baby.
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October 28th, 2009 at 8:56 am
The physical withdrawal symptoms can last intolerably up to about two weeks. There is no cutting down the number of cigarettes you have to stop cold turkey. The fact that you did it once before suggests you will be successful coping with the withdrawal syndrome. after the withdrawal it is a question of never smoking that next cigarette. Your brain is very good with remembering the addiction chemistry of good feeling especially the next one after a period of abstinence. If you are foolish enough to light up the next one after about two weeks of withdrawal with no smoking at all, you will be right back to when you gave up smoking initially. Good luck and congratulations.
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October 28th, 2009 at 9:32 am
No lecture from me…I smoked a pack & a half to 2 packs a day for 16 years. Finally, 4 & 1/2 years ago when my daughter turned 3, I said to myself "why are you doing this ? Do you want your child to see you doing this and pick up the habit one day ?!?"…and right then and there I made a choice to quit….and I haven’t touched a cigarette since that day.
It was the love I have for my daughter that helped me quit….I had tried many times before without any success. The important thing is, if you try and fail- DON’T beat yourself up and DON’T give up! Smoking is hard to beat- I know! Brush yourself off, forgive yourself and try again…
I wish you the best in this- and stay positive okay ? And above all, do it for your child! He/she is worth it! That’s what finally helped me quit for good….and no- it’s not easy…BUT, it can be done….and it really does get easier as time goes by. Just get through the first few weeks and it’s all down hill from there- I promise
You have a blessed evening
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October 28th, 2009 at 10:02 am
well i wish you luck and i know how hard it is to unaddict yourself from something!
and it can be extremely harmful to your baby with your smoking but my mom smoked the entire time with my sister is she is just fine. but that doesnt make it ok and it doesnt mean your baby will be perfectly fine.
so many people have quit, so its not impossible! good luck!
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October 28th, 2009 at 10:41 am
My mother smoked when she was pregnant with me, and Im perfectly healthy. But that is not to say that smoking isnt bad for you and your baby, it is, but its not horribly deadly either.
A friend asked her doctor and he told her not to quit because she was already stressed out and high risk, and he felt quitting was too much stress for the pregnancy. Her baby was and is fine. If she had miscarried due to stress it would not have been.
Another friend grew up with his grandparents and they smoked a lot, and smoked inside. He had asthma and bronchial problems untill he was grown, though neither he nor his mother smoked.
Therefore I think smoking is surely far worse for a baby to breath rather than a baby of the unborn yet sort…
So sure, quit smoking, its a crummy habit anyway, but dont let it freak you out either. And if you just cant stop, then at least smoke outside and breathe deeply in between puffs to lessen the oxygen deprivation you are causing junior…
I bet it wont be that hard anyhow, I quit once and it didnt bother me too much, though youre right, you go to a party and get a couple drinks and before you know it youre smoking again… At least its not crack!
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good luck! you can do it!
October 28th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Try to get more information regarding some ways to stop smoking at my profile.
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October 28th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I cured myself and I bet you can cure yourself too from this bad habit with this product I found out:
http://www.helpmequitsmoking.net
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October 28th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I smoked for 8 years & quit the moment I DECIDED!(June 07)
See, If you smoke, your mind has been programmed by repetition.
This programming can be undone easily, naturally and effortlessly through the power of hypnosis.
Valerie Dawson is a Quit Smoking Expert – Doctor Recommended.
Do yourself a favor & check her website:
http://a2zsol.dawson1962.hop.clickbank.net
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April 22nd, 2010 at 6:41 am
I grew up with a dad that smoked a pack a day and I ended up suffering the consquences, getting asthma from the second hand smoke. Seriously if you have a family, think about what you are doing to them and is it really worth it?