There seems to be conflicting opinions in the medical profession as when it is the right time to stop smoking when you discover your pregnant. As a responsable parent we know we should quit smoking for our own health reasons, but many of us find this difficult to do. It goes without saying that a lot of female smokers who find them selfs prgnant will face this question.When?
If you’re finding it difficult to give up this bad habit then this news can really place you in a quandary. What on earth are you going to do now? You may have tried and failed on many an occasion to put down those cigarettes, and really don’t know where to turn.
In many respects, the best time for you to make a really strong and concerted effort is when you first find out that you are indeed pregnant. This, in theory, should be by far the best motivator that you have ever received. You now know that you are responsible for not just one person but for another person, your unborn child, who is 100% reliant on the decisions that you make now and during your pregnancy.
Some people in the medical profession might say that the child is in danger of picking up some adverse effects anyway, simply because you have the side effects of smoking inside your body. Others say that it’s perfectly okay and indeed highly recommended that you should obtain a position of smoking cessation as soon as you get the good news that you are pregnant.
You know that it is possible for us to justify any action that we take, even if we know that it’s bad. We can pull on some statistics and some stories from mothers who tell us that infants have indeed been born into the world with no apparent negative effects, even though their mothers continue to smoke throughout pregnancy. However, there are a number of stories around and a lot of evidence to point to significant issues if you blaze ahead without thinking very carefully.
While we should quit smoking as soon as possible under the vast majority of circumstances, there is an increasing body of evidence to show that we should be very careful when we get to the 12 week stage. At that point, if we decide to quit then evidence does show that the child could suffer from significant withdrawal symptoms. At that stage, it is said, it might be better to wait until after the child is born before making your next attempt to oust the demons.
Look in the mirror and take a good look at yourself. Understand that you are strong enough to stop smoking and that the battle is a mental one, which you are capable of winning. Make the right decisions now for the health and well-being of your unborn baby. You know that you won’t be able to live with yourself if you discover something is affecting your child in future, which can be directly related to your smoking habits now.