I am 5 weeks pregnant and am having a really hard time quitting smoking, I've tried everything.. advice?

Okay, so I was never a smoker myself, so I can't speak from experience, however my mom quit for me in the 4th grade and it was one of the hardest things she ever had to do.

When I was in 4th grade, we really got hit hard with drug and tobacco information. For Christmas, we wrote these letters to Santa about the number one thing we wanted for Christmas. I wrote a 2 page letter about how badly I wanted my mom to quit smoking because I was terrified that she would die, and they actually sent it to my mom and my mom was so touched that she decided to quit.

She didn't use gum or the patch, because neither of them worked for her. So, I'll list a few of the other things she did to help get over the addiction:

• She made a list of reasons why she wanted to quit. She had a list on the fridge and a list in her purse, and even wrote them on her hand. Every time she would want a cigarette, she would read that list and somehow, it gave her inspiration to not even reach for a cigarette. To give you some reasons: You don't want to hurt your baby, I'm sure. The thing about smoking while pregnant, is that the baby becomes addicted to nicotine and when it's born, it goes through a very harsh withdraw, just like you are. It's no fun. Not to mention that every single time you smoke a cigarette, you deprive the baby of pints of oxygen that could help it to develop. You want to be around for a long time, so you need to stop smoking. With cancer already on the rise, you don't want to cause anymore reason to get it. And I know you wouldn't want your baby to be constantly afraid of you dying someday. I'm sure you could think of more reasons, but if it would help any, here is a picture of healthy lungs, versus a heavy smoker for 10 years:

http://www.kbctheride.com/clientimages/46396/lungs...

http://jimfairthorne.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/s...

• She decreased little by little. She started with one number and decreased it by 2 every week. Eventually, she was able to quit cold turkey without feeling the horrible withdraw urges.

Another thing that I would recommend is that maybe instead of chewing the gum all the time or always wearing the patch, keep the gum handy and whenever you smell a cigarette, eat a piece of gum and that way it will take some of the edge off. I would say that that would help wonders!

The basic plot of quitting really relies on you. Yes, it is a mental thing, but you have to want to quit. You have to realize how dangerous it is to you and your baby, and how you want to live for a long time. You have to really want to quit and have that willpower, or it's never going to happen. Put your heart into it and really commit to it.

It's all a mental thing, more than physical. Yes, you have an addiction, but if you want to quit badly enough, you can do it. I know you can. I think it's wonderful that you want to quit, and I hope that you follow through with it for you and your baby. Good luck. (:

My fiancée is working on quitting. It helped to see the effects through pictures and reports.

He's currently using a nicotine inhaler, which I believe is completely safe during pregnancy, and it's helping a lot. He smoke/d the same amount as you and actually can get a nicotine buzz off of the inhaler if he uses it too long.

It may also help to know that cigarettes actually cause more stress in your body- it doesn't relieve it. People just think it relieves stress because of the deep breathing they do. Deep breathing exercises can help with the anxiety of quitting.

Good luck and kudos to you for trying! Once you kick the habit, don't pick it back up!

I quit because I had the swine flu and pneumonia one right after another and was severely ill for a month and a half. I didn't smoke at all during that time so I just never picked it back up for my own health!

Over a year with out smoking and I've been pretty healthy!

Let me just say, if you can't fight your cravings to smoke, DO NOT continue using the patch. It is incredibly dangerous to smoke while you are wearing a nicotine patch. There's a chance you could have a stroke.

Just keep working on cutting down. Smoking half a pack a day is better for you and your baby than smoking a pack a day. Just like smoking 7 cigs is better than smoking 10, and so on. There is no shame in quitting gradually instead of going cold turkey! Good luck and congratulations!

Natural Quit Smoking Magic

Not a woman nor am I pregnant but I've dealt with the cigarette habit for half my life. It all comes down to willpower and whether you REALLY want to quit. Nicotine gum and patches are helpful but I found that just smoking fewer and fewer cigs each day until you're down to nothing is the best way. Get a new hobby or something. Good Luck.

My aunt in law has been smoke free for a little over a month now. She did the patch and also chewing on something when you get a craving. Try straws or pens or even candy like loli pops or Twizlers those are some of the things that I have heard help a lot.

I would set a date that you want to quit and cut down on smoking. so if you smoke a pack try to smoke a half pack or even try to cut it down lower tell your at 1 a day. also cinnamon candy's or gum helps with the cravings.

one thing that helped my boyfriend to quit is that every time he wanted a smoke he would go for a walk or do something else to get his mind off it... hope any of this helps

Your man needs to quit with you......it's only right by you, AND your child!! This should be something you guys are doing together, not him getting to continue leaving you out there to deal with on your own. Very irresponsible and disrespectful of him.

And, my brother had great success with Smoke Away. The package costs like $60 or so, but he went from being a heavy smoker to none with this system.

i have heard the patch is actually worse for you during pregnancy because it pumps more nicotine in you then you would get just by smoking a ciggerette. i gave myself two a day for the first week, then one a day for another week, i had basically quit smoking by the end of week two that when i would have a drag it would make me extremely sick. its something to try, good luck i know its hard! :)

in some cases might not be you but like i said it is in most cases that people are addicted to smoking it is because they need to be moving there mouth try chewing gum and whenever you want to smoke think of how your baby could get really injured by your actions hope it helps