So my cousin is pregnant...

[Seabrook]

I agree with some of Raven's points. That's why I suggested a doctor or microbiologist coaching her through this. Don't try to trick her with 0mg until you go to the thread that lists the symptoms of quitting smoking. She could get massive depression and that might stress her whole system. Lemme tell u what happened to me. I read lots and lots of threads on this site before I started vaping. A lot of people that smoked 2-3 packs a day for 20, 30 years + said that they didn't touch another analog after the first hit off their PV. Well, that's what I did at first, but when Day #4 came around, I was so depressed I couldn't even get out of bed til almost noon, and every freakin bone in my body ached. I bought a pack of analogs and smoked one in the AM w/coffee and 2 in the PM with my wine until I finally cut down enough that I could go w/o analogs.

One more thing, go to uTube and google Dr. Gary Weinstein. He is a pulmonologist (lung specialist dr.). He says right on his video that nicotine is not any more harmful for a person than caffeine is. He didn't mention if it was harmful to a fetus though.

 

[kalojado]

Just gonna say if you get a kit with 0 nicotine in it she could possibly decided vaping is not for her since it isnt doing anything for her cravings for cigs, and keep smoking anyway.

Whatever you do let her make an informed decision.

I know, I thought about that in one of my later posts. I'm just confused. I'm going to suggest she talk to her doctor asap to see what they think and go from there...

 

[Metstoo]

I had a friend who was also pregnant for 5 months without knowing it. She was 38 at the time, smoking and on narcotic pain patches for a bad back. She also had cramping and nearly aborted because she stopped smoking AND quit the patches cold turkey. They had to put her back on the patches and wean both her and the baby off the drugs over a 3 week period of time. I think she did the same with the cigs, though she was never a heavy smoker.

The baby came a month early so he was small but has since become a healthy, happy boy. His mom jokes that she was only pregnant for 3 months...

Have her consult with her doc... maybe low dose vaping would be an acceptable substitute for her and the baby.

 

[JLeigh]

I was a smoker when I learned I was pregnant. When my OBGYN (an excellent doctor) found out I smoked, he absolutely forbade me to quit cold-turkey. He said it was dangerous for the baby and that I should try to reduce my smoking gradually. I did gradually reduce the smoking, and I got down to about 3-4 cigs per day. She weighed 8lbs at birth and was very healthy. She just turned 18 a couple of months ago.

 

[Rosa]

I smoked until about 4 months pregnant with both my kids (it's HARD to quit!) and they both turned out fine. Both born within a week of their due dates and both normal weight; (daughter almost 7 pounds, son almost 8 pounds) but I wish I could have quit before I knew I was pregnant. Oh well.

I think it's better if the pregnant mom's not a smoker, but it's too late for that as far as the cousin goes, she's a smoker already. Maybe if she vapes she can at least control the mg nicotine that way, perhaps wean the mg down to a lower level and definitely cut out all the other chemicals that she's already getting in her cigs.

IM NOT A DOCTOR; THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE

 

[kalojado]

Thank you everyone for the advice and stories. I am definitely going to make her tell her doc and see what they say. Seems like the best idea. She had also heard that it was bad to just quit cold turkey, but i thought that sounded like her not wanting to quit... but apparently she was right. Thanks again everyone, I had no idea who to ask and you all have helped tremendously!

 

[Seabrook]

You're welcome. And don't leave us hanging. Come back later with an update on how she's doing. She's lucky to have you to look out for her. Bless you.

 

[CaptJay]

Good luck to your cuz and everyone is right baout not quitting cold turkey - especially if she's under any stress elsewhere in her life - could lead to some serious issues for both of them.
I managed to cut down smoking (but not quit) while pregnant - kids were all normal sized, healthy and currently are honor students. If the docs are ok with it, then let her be. She can always give up later if she can't manage it now; our parents n grandparents used to smoke around new borns all the time - heck you used to be able to smoke in HOSPITALS for heaven's sake - including visiting patients just out of surgery and new mothers. (My grandad smoked a pipe in the hospital when he came to visit my mum when my brother was born lol)
Best of luck to her!

 

[shatner]

She needs to go cold turkey. Nicotine isn't safe for a fetus.

 

[blueeyekelly]

I smoke through both my pregnancies and some of this one too. My two kids that are here where big and healthy and if smoking lead to low birth wts. in them I am glad first kid was a couple weeks early and wt. over 8 lbs 2nd wt. over 9. I am smoking and vaping with this one, trying to cut down on the smoking but it is hard, I was not one of the people that picked up a PV and did not touch an analog again, I go a couple weeks with out smoking then I give in and start again, but I am trying.

I would get a Dr. advice but if it was me I would only take the advice of the dr that I liked, must be the rebel in me if what they say does not mesh with what I think I;m not going to do it.

She needs to try to use common since, even if it isn't common anymore......

 

[Slea]

She needs to go cold turkey. Nicotine isn't safe for a fetus.

Have you been reading this thread?

 

[Zenfrogs]

I was able to quit very early with both of my kids - the taste and smell just made me ill. However, I had two different OB's and guess what?? They both had two different opinions. One said "stop immediately" and the other said "whatever you do don't quit cold turkey". My mom smoked with all of her pregnancies... granted it was the 70's (were there even real car seats back then?) and I guarantee that a lot of you had either parents or family members that smoked and continued smoking while nursing.

I would not go with 0 nic .... I would go with 8 and then after 2 weeks 4 and then 0 .... and then quit. If she has managed to smoke this long without the smell (pregnant women have a very keen sense of smell) bothering her she will know that 0 is not cutting the cravings. She will light up to curb it instead of vaping.

Let's not forget how addictive cigarettes are and to the previous posters that were highly judgmental - have you forgotten what it is like to NEED that cigarette? Logically she knows she needs to quit but then again so does the person chain smoking while they are hooked up to an oxygen tank (can we say dangerous!).

She should do what causes her and the baby the least stress and makes her feel the least ill. she should remember that dr's are humans and all have their own personal philosophies/agendas as well and maybe get several opinions if that is affordable for her. I wish her the best luck!

 

[smokum]

She needs to go cold turkey. Nicotine isn't safe for a fetus.

So in less than 24 hour of making this post: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...omething-far-more-sinister-2.html#post1269709 you come on here with a statement like that !! No very responsible at all "doctor"...

-Greg

 

[wenchy69]

Woooooow that's soooo ......ed!!!
You know like every chemical in cigarettes are teratogens??? And she's wondering about e cigs I assume. Only without nicotine!!! Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor and will shunt blood away from the baby. I can't believe she was smoking. Early in the pregnancy is when the organs develop and that's when they're most vulnerable to defects. I don't like this one bit. If not for yourself, pause for the baby.

......ed? what a harsh thing to say! quitting cold turkey is extremely hard, and does carry risks.

the girl clearly needs help, not judgment! and i applaud the OP for trying to help her.

 

[jaded]

......ed? what a harsh thing to say! quitting cold turkey is extremely hard, and does carry risks.

the girl clearly needs help, not judgment! and i applaud the OP for trying to help her.

Not to mention its stated that she just found out. It took my ex 3 months before she found out she was prego and she smoked, toked, tripped and drank in those 3 months. Kid still came out perfect, makes straight A's and extremely active. Oddly enough every time she has tried to have a baby the healthy way there are always problems.

 

[Sushikune]

Fascinating thread everybody. (this from a mom of 4).

Medical science gives us "risks". If someone smokes during pregnancy they are only increasing the "risk" of all these nasty things happening. It won't necessarily happen. All of us ex-smokers dealt with this everyday. We knew there is a risk of getting cancer if we smoke... but we've all heard the story about "Gramma" who smoked for 60 years and is perfectly healthy.

So yeah. In my own rambling way... I'm trying to say... Quitting smoking during pregnancy decreases the "risk" of anything happening to the fetus.

 

[PaulB]

Maybe they should just go back to making the cigarettes they way they used to back in the '40s, '50s and '60s--back when boatloads of smoking moms gave birth to boatloads of healthy kids (me, for one).

OK--I'm being facetious. But we are talking about risks from tobacco, not plutonium.

 

[martha1014]

It seems so easy for most of us to say she needs to quit but I can tell you I have COPD and was having trouble breathing and I still smoked. As we all know this is easier said than done. I smoked during both of my pregnancies with no problems. Back in the 70's and 80's it was not such a big deal. I think it would benefit her to switch to vaping with as low a nicotine level that would keep her satisifed. We all know this is much healthier than smoking cigarettes.

I would just be supportive and offer her the option of vaping and not judge her.

 

[UntamedRose]

I am NOT advocating smoking(nor vaping) during pregnancy......However for a reality check.
If you research and looks the original studies on the effects of smoking during pregnancy it gets a Lot of bad rap...that isnt totally deserved. The biggest issue caused by it is low birth rates....it increases the chances by 7...yes only 7% that the baby will be born below 5 pounds. If the mother is other wise healthy, eats right and gets the right medical attention...the "risk" isnt an "OMG you evil evil woman!" issue.
By far the majority of the chemicals in cigs dont pass into the womb. Now is it "good" hell no...but lets not bash folks over the head if they are trying.

Plus the majority of Doc's dont recommend sudden quits...it can harm or stress the fetus More then it does adults.

Have her speak with her Doc...but a PV with the mind set of gradually cutting the nic back and then off would be a good option IMO.
(and tell her stay the HELL away from the chantix pill..it's Worst then smoking for the fetus)

My concern wouldnt be so much in womb with vaping...it's after birth, Nic pass's more readily through breast milk then it does through the womb.

 

[shatner]

Have you been reading this thread?

I admit, no, I didn't read the thread. After going back and reading it, I change my opinion. Get her an e-cig.