I have a question?

I am 10 weeks pregnant with my second child. I am a smoker, but I quit as soon as I found out I was pregnant both times.

Now my question is this. I read the confessional board, and I just want to say, I have no problems with what anybody did, that is their own business. But how come if a woman smokes a cigarette while pregnant it is the end of the world?

I mean, a glass of wine CAN have effects on a fetus. so can sushi, and fresh mozzerella. I f someone on the confession board said they have a cigarette once in a while I am sure there would have been drama.

Re: I have a question?

I don't know really but quite honestly it would really put me off to see. I am very anti-smokiing for anyone as it is a terrible health hazard to the smoker and everyone around them. Unlike the occassional glass of wine or piece of fresh mozzarella.

JMHO!

Re: I have a question?

I believe smoking has been linked to low birth weight and other health problems.

I will never judge any preg mom (heck I'm on that confessional), but I think the results of smoking are more concrete than the occasional glass of wine.

Re: I have a question?

I think smoking as well as drugs and drinking might be taken more harshly- especially if someone is trying to get pg. They should have stopped when they made the decision to bd.

That being said- we are human and make mistakes and quitting once you know is WAY better than continuing during pg or IMO smoking when the baby is born.

I have students who come in REEKING of ciggarette smoke and 2nd hand smoke is equal to child abuse in my eyes becuase of the illnesses that it causes.
Now that may get flames but as a child who lived with a smoker for 18 years- I really don't care!

Re: I have a question?

it is because society views smoking as a negative anyways where as drinking wine,eating sushi and cheese are all postives when you are not necessarly pregnant.

And also cultural differences. If you go to Eastern Europe where literallly every other person smokes if not more you will see some pregnant moms smoking on occassion and its no big deal.

Re: I have a question?

thank god i never got into smoking because its hard enough to cutting out cold cuts and coffe i cant imagine cigarettes

Re: I have a question?

me personally...

dh had an aunt & uncle who smoked while she was pregnant. and in the house while the kid was growing up... well when baby/kid- would get taken to the HOSPITAL FOR ASTHMA ATTACKS- the child had no choice. They still smoked in the house even though their kid had serious asthma from it... and now their kid is in h.s. and the aunt is battling LUNG CANCER from the smoke- went into remission and it came back again...second hand smoke can have serious side effects too ...we use to come home from family parties from there with our eyes watering from it- our hair & clothes smelling of it...

IM not saying people have to quit- i hope all smokers would smoke outside the house and not smoke while pregnant

Some doctors allow wine/sushi in moderation(although i dont eat/drink anything on the no list).

Message edited 2/21/2009 6:09:54 PM.

Re: I have a question?

I think it's also because smoking is so addicting. If you decide to smoke once or twice when you are pregnant, there is a good chance that you will do it again and there is a good chance that you will smoke when your child arrives. I've always been a bit anti-smoking, so I'm certainly not going to be easier on pregnant women who smoke than I am on anyone else who does.

Re: I have a question?

Re: I have a question?

I'm put off by even NON-pregnant smokers, so pregnant smokers are a HUGE deal to me!

The only person I know that smoked through pregnancy continued to smoke in the house while raising her children. She ended up birthing 2 kids with low birth weight, vision defects, learning disabilities, and respiratory issues. Were any of those things their fault?! NO! But selfish Mom needed her cigarettes to feel good.

My DH has told this person that our child will never be in her home or in her arms unless she quits smoking before he's born. She claims she won't smoke around the baby, but we don't care. It's still in her clothes, her hair, on her skin and there's no way I'd put my child at risk for someone else's selfish fix.