Pregnant and smoking

Myslissa

We all learn as we get older. I was selfish and smoked during both pregnancies. I was very lucky having twins that weighed in at 6.4 and 6.9 and my youngest weighed 9lbs. Doesnt mean that I dont feel bad about it now that I put their health at risk for being selfish and stupid. I didnt smoke in the house after my youngest was born....again, learning as I got older. Now, I have quit entirely and would probably beat anyone that smoked around my grandbabies. We are all human and make mistakes. Live and learn.

GorillaNJ

I think that this is better then smoking while pregnant...

M_lifts

i think its quite selfish, you have a choice to continue smoking or not, however your baby does not.
Sure its an addiction but there are plenty of nicotine replacement therapies out there to help people quit. So its not such a difficult thing to do. try experiencing a newborn baby that wont sleep, wont feed and cries all the time and coupled with sleep deprivation for yourself- now that is stress.

Smoking is hideous in so many ways- especially in leading to chronic lung diseases. I work with people with chronic lung problems and they would give anything to go back to when they first started smoking and make themselves stop. Try being housebound for an entire week without meeting a soul as you are too breathless to leave your house, eat, drink or have a shower. Definitely puts things into perspective.

Munque

I quit smoking gradually at the beginning of my first pregnancy, at the advice of my doctor, I quit completely when i was 4 months pregnant (took a while because I was 16 and slightly stupid) Then my boyfriend was killed and I went into a tailspin of depression and the doctor advised me to start smoking again because it was a crutch for me before and it would help to get me less stressed. So I started smoking again, not very often, but I smoked maybe one a week when I felt the depression setting in real strong. She was born completely healthy and still rarely goes to the doctor, rarely gets a cold. My second one, I smoked and was on birth control until I was 5 months pregnant, which was when I found out I was pregnant, it took me maybe 3 weeks to quit smoking completely with her, and I had her 2 months early, induced because she had utero growth retardation, she was 8 weeks early, 4lbs 5oz, but her lungs were fully developed and other than being premature, she was perfectly healthy. I didn't smoke at all with my 3rd (she was planned) and she was born with RSV. I don't smoke in the house, I don't smoke in the car and I don't allow others to do it either when my kids are around. I'm not saying one has to do with the other, mind you, you shouldn't smoke when your pregnant, common sense, but to each their own.

Now, my three step children, their mom smoked when she was pregnant, smoked in the house, in the car... they get colds pretty often as compared to my natural children, but still generally healthy as compared to other random kids.

Now, that said, my step kids were in a car accident with their mother about 6 years ago, my daughter took the impact and she has traumatic brain injury and left side paralysis.

So though I don't condone her smoking in the house when the kids are there for visitation, I'm honestly more scared of the ride home with her than anything else.

For the chick that said that all smokers are rude, I'll make a note of that, I was unaware, but I will try to work harder to live up to your expectations of me. All this time I've been trying to help out people like you (the dreaded non-smokers) by not smoking in public places and if you walk into my space I'll move away and blow my smoke the other way, and if you have a kid and walk by me, I'll hold my smoke in, that's right, I don't breath until that kid is well past me. Had I known that we are all rude, in order to gain the approval of my smoking peers, I would have tried harder to inconvenience all the perfect non smokers in the world.

And to the person that said we are bad parents because we smoke and aren't setting a good example, I would have to assumet that you have never said a bad word in front of your kid, drank and alcoholic beverage, or had an argument with your spouse where the kids could hear you, or lord forbid overate until you had to end up on weight loss forum. Surely you are here because you are perfect in every way and only looking for cyber friendships because you feel the need to spread your perfection through the internet.

ktbug82

Knowing what we now know about how harmful cigarettes can be to anyone's health... why would anyone even WANT to smoke while pregnant!? It is SO incredibly selfish and disgusting. And shame on those who try to use the excuse of physical stress when quitting cold turkey. What woman is responsible for that baby's life and well-being while in the womb. Why would you want to expose your baby to potential chronic health risks like asthma, chronic bronchitis, or respiratory distress? Parents also shouldn't be smoking around any kids, especially when the kids are too young to make the choice to leave the room or car. Nothing pisses me off more than seeing someone smoking in their car with all of their windows up and a baby in the backseat. Learn responsibility.

iuangina

I quit smoking gradually at the beginning of my first pregnancy, at the advice of my doctor, I quit completely when i was 4 months pregnant (took a while because I was 16 and slightly stupid) Then my boyfriend was killed and I went into a tailspin of depression and the doctor advised me to start smoking again because it was a crutch for me before and it would help to get me less stressed. So I started smoking again, not very often, but I smoked maybe one a week when I felt the depression setting in real strong. She was born completely healthy and still rarely goes to the doctor, rarely gets a cold. My second one, I smoked and was on birth control until I was 5 months pregnant, which was when I found out I was pregnant, it took me maybe 3 weeks to quit smoking completely with her, and I had her 2 months early, induced because she had utero growth retardation, she was 8 weeks early, 4lbs 5oz, but her lungs were fully developed and other than being premature, she was perfectly healthy. I didn't smoke at all with my 3rd (she was planned) and she was born with RSV. I don't smoke in the house, I don't smoke in the car and I don't allow others to do it either when my kids are around. I'm not saying one has to do with the other, mind you, you shouldn't smoke when your pregnant, common sense, but to each their own.

Now, my three step children, their mom smoked when she was pregnant, smoked in the house, in the car... they get colds pretty often as compared to my natural children, but still generally healthy as compared to other random kids.

Now, that said, my step kids were in a car accident with their mother about 6 years ago, my daughter took the impact and she has traumatic brain injury and left side paralysis.

So though I don't condone her smoking in the house when the kids are there for visitation, I'm honestly more scared of the ride home with her than anything else.

For the chick that said that all smokers are rude, I'll make a note of that, I was unaware, but I will try to work harder to live up to your expectations of me. All this time I've been trying to help out people like you (the dreaded non-smokers) by not smoking in public places and if you walk into my space I'll move away and blow my smoke the other way, and if you have a kid and walk by me, I'll hold my smoke in, that's right, I don't breath until that kid is well past me. Had I known that we are all rude, in order to gain the approval of my smoking peers, I would have tried harder to inconvenience all the perfect non smokers in the world.

And to the person that said we are bad parents because we smoke and aren't setting a good example, I would have to assumet that you have never said a bad word in front of your kid, drank and alcoholic beverage, or had an argument with your spouse where the kids could hear you, or lord forbid overate until you had to end up on weight loss forum. Surely you are here because you are perfect in every way and only looking for cyber friendships because you feel the need to spread your perfection through the internet.

never said all smokers are rude. In fact, if you read my earlier post I make a point to say thank you to the smokers who make an effort to avoid getting smoke near me and my family.

Enter snarky comment - I'm sorry to have offended the perfect smokers here on MFP. Most smokers are not like you. I know that all the smokers on a fitness and health website designed to help you reach healthy weight loss goals would never think to blow smoke in a non-smokers direction. end snarky comment

BTW, I like mini ravoili. Processed food tastes good :laugh:

ktbug82

Bringing up 3rd hand smoke seems overly nitpicky to me.

More research is being done about 3rd hand smoke. In Indiana, at all of the IU Health Hospitals, it now a policy that there is to be NO smoking whatsoever by any staff at work. It doesn't matter if they are on their break, or clocked in. It has also been taken as far as if you are going to wear your work outfit to work, you are not allowed to smoke on your way into work. There have been numerous findings that 3rd hand smoke on nurse's and doctor's scrubs, skin, etc is making patients, especially pediatrics, much more sick and causing symptoms to worsen and making the recooperating time much longer. I'm glad that these hospitals are taking these steps!

Munque

I quit smoking gradually at the beginning of my first pregnancy, at the advice of my doctor, I quit completely when i was 4 months pregnant (took a while because I was 16 and slightly stupid) Then my boyfriend was killed and I went into a tailspin of depression and the doctor advised me to start smoking again because it was a crutch for me before and it would help to get me less stressed. So I started smoking again, not very often, but I smoked maybe one a week when I felt the depression setting in real strong. She was born completely healthy and still rarely goes to the doctor, rarely gets a cold. My second one, I smoked and was on birth control until I was 5 months pregnant, which was when I found out I was pregnant, it took me maybe 3 weeks to quit smoking completely with her, and I had her 2 months early, induced because she had utero growth retardation, she was 8 weeks early, 4lbs 5oz, but her lungs were fully developed and other than being premature, she was perfectly healthy. I didn't smoke at all with my 3rd (she was planned) and she was born with RSV. I don't smoke in the house, I don't smoke in the car and I don't allow others to do it either when my kids are around. I'm not saying one has to do with the other, mind you, you shouldn't smoke when your pregnant, common sense, but to each their own.

Now, my three step children, their mom smoked when she was pregnant, smoked in the house, in the car... they get colds pretty often as compared to my natural children, but still generally healthy as compared to other random kids.

Now, that said, my step kids were in a car accident with their mother about 6 years ago, my daughter took the impact and she has traumatic brain injury and left side paralysis.

So though I don't condone her smoking in the house when the kids are there for visitation, I'm honestly more scared of the ride home with her than anything else.

For the chick that said that all smokers are rude, I'll make a note of that, I was unaware, but I will try to work harder to live up to your expectations of me. All this time I've been trying to help out people like you (the dreaded non-smokers) by not smoking in public places and if you walk into my space I'll move away and blow my smoke the other way, and if you have a kid and walk by me, I'll hold my smoke in, that's right, I don't breath until that kid is well past me. Had I known that we are all rude, in order to gain the approval of my smoking peers, I would have tried harder to inconvenience all the perfect non smokers in the world.

And to the person that said we are bad parents because we smoke and aren't setting a good example, I would have to assumet that you have never said a bad word in front of your kid, drank and alcoholic beverage, or had an argument with your spouse where the kids could hear you, or lord forbid overate until you had to end up on weight loss forum. Surely you are here because you are perfect in every way and only looking for cyber friendships because you feel the need to spread your perfection through the internet.

never said all smokers are rude. In fact, if you read my earlier post I make a point to say thank you to the smokers who make an effort to avoid getting smoke near me and my family.

Enter snarky comment - I'm sorry to have offended the perfect smokers here on MFP. Most smokers are not like you. I know that all the smokers on a fitness and health website designed to help you reach healthy weight loss goals would never think to blow smoke in a non-smokers direction. end snarky comment

BTW, I like mini ravoili. Processed food tastes good :laugh:

This is the first time I've been replied to on MFP, I'm a little giddy, despite the snarky comments.

I'm not saying that myself or any other smoker or non smoker is perfect, I was being sarcasitic obviously. I'm just saying you can't take one thing and degrade the way a person lives because of that one thing, but if you have the stones to do it, look in the mirror first because I'm sure you have imperfections too.

iuangina

I quit smoking gradually at the beginning of my first pregnancy, at the advice of my doctor, I quit completely when i was 4 months pregnant (took a while because I was 16 and slightly stupid) Then my boyfriend was killed and I went into a tailspin of depression and the doctor advised me to start smoking again because it was a crutch for me before and it would help to get me less stressed. So I started smoking again, not very often, but I smoked maybe one a week when I felt the depression setting in real strong. She was born completely healthy and still rarely goes to the doctor, rarely gets a cold. My second one, I smoked and was on birth control until I was 5 months pregnant, which was when I found out I was pregnant, it took me maybe 3 weeks to quit smoking completely with her, and I had her 2 months early, induced because she had utero growth retardation, she was 8 weeks early, 4lbs 5oz, but her lungs were fully developed and other than being premature, she was perfectly healthy. I didn't smoke at all with my 3rd (she was planned) and she was born with RSV. I don't smoke in the house, I don't smoke in the car and I don't allow others to do it either when my kids are around. I'm not saying one has to do with the other, mind you, you shouldn't smoke when your pregnant, common sense, but to each their own.

Now, my three step children, their mom smoked when she was pregnant, smoked in the house, in the car... they get colds pretty often as compared to my natural children, but still generally healthy as compared to other random kids.

Now, that said, my step kids were in a car accident with their mother about 6 years ago, my daughter took the impact and she has traumatic brain injury and left side paralysis.

So though I don't condone her smoking in the house when the kids are there for visitation, I'm honestly more scared of the ride home with her than anything else.

For the chick that said that all smokers are rude, I'll make a note of that, I was unaware, but I will try to work harder to live up to your expectations of me. All this time I've been trying to help out people like you (the dreaded non-smokers) by not smoking in public places and if you walk into my space I'll move away and blow my smoke the other way, and if you have a kid and walk by me, I'll hold my smoke in, that's right, I don't breath until that kid is well past me. Had I known that we are all rude, in order to gain the approval of my smoking peers, I would have tried harder to inconvenience all the perfect non smokers in the world.

And to the person that said we are bad parents because we smoke and aren't setting a good example, I would have to assumet that you have never said a bad word in front of your kid, drank and alcoholic beverage, or had an argument with your spouse where the kids could hear you, or lord forbid overate until you had to end up on weight loss forum. Surely you are here because you are perfect in every way and only looking for cyber friendships because you feel the need to spread your perfection through the internet.

never said all smokers are rude. In fact, if you read my earlier post I make a point to say thank you to the smokers who make an effort to avoid getting smoke near me and my family.

Enter snarky comment - I'm sorry to have offended the perfect smokers here on MFP. Most smokers are not like you. I know that all the smokers on a fitness and health website designed to help you reach healthy weight loss goals would never think to blow smoke in a non-smokers direction. end snarky comment

BTW, I like mini ravoili. Processed food tastes good :laugh:

This is the first time I've been replied to on MFP, I'm a little giddy, despite the snarky comments.

I'm not saying that myself or any other smoker or non smoker is perfect, I was being sarcasitic obviously. I'm just saying you can't take one thing and degrade the way a person lives because of that one thing, but if you have the stones to do it, look in the mirror first because I'm sure you have imperfections too.

I'm not saying I don't have flaws. However, mine do not impact the health of others.

messyinthekitchen

I have ZERO respect for women who smoke while they are pregnant. It infuriates me. I actually hope they lose their kid. Your job as a mother is to nurture and protect your child from the very start including the womb. The endless health problems you put your child in so you can smoke. How f*cking selfish. My mother is a smoker she also quit cold turkey as soon as she started trying to have a baby. She was not around any smokers while smoking. Growing up she never smoked in the house or the car. Even if she is stressed and needed one my health was always most important. My fiance on the other hand has chronic asthma because his sad excuse for a mother smoked her entire pregnancy. Ohh his sister has it too she did not learn the first time. And this was back in the 80`s when they did not know as much as we know today. Women today who smoke while pregnant are selfish. I am not sorry if it offends anyone because it`s the truth. I am only sorry for that poor little baby.

fbmandy55

I smoked while pregnant with my child. I worked with 2 nurses at the time who were pregnant, one smoked occasionally when work got crazy. I did smoke less but never quit completely, my son was born completely healthy and a healthy weight. My grandparents smoked with my parents, my parents smoked with me. It was common up until the 70's-80's for women to smoke or sometimes drink while pregant. I don't smoke in my home and never will.

My plan is to quit BEFORE I have another but I honestly think smoking is just one more thing that everyone tends to completely freak about because of what they see in a "study" or on tv. Yes, smoking is not good for you but I'm a sceptic as to how much worse it is compared to many other things we are exposed to daily.

fbmandy55

Poll: How many women here are anti-smoking but pro-choice?

nerdyandilikeit

Bringing up 3rd hand smoke seems overly nitpicky to me.

More research is being done about 3rd hand smoke. In Indiana, at all of the IU Health Hospitals, it now a policy that there is to be NO smoking whatsoever by any staff at work. It doesn't matter if they are on their break, or clocked in. It has also been taken as far as if you are going to wear your work outfit to work, you are not allowed to smoke on your way into work. There have been numerous findings that 3rd hand smoke on nurse's and doctor's scrubs, skin, etc is making patients, especially pediatrics, much more sick and causing symptoms to worsen and making the recooperating time much longer. I'm glad that these hospitals are taking these steps!

I think that's a great thing, in the medical field especially.

SarabellPlus3

I quit smoking gradually at the beginning of my first pregnancy, at the advice of my doctor, I quit completely when i was 4 months pregnant (took a while because I was 16 and slightly stupid) Then my boyfriend was killed and I went into a tailspin of depression and the doctor advised me to start smoking again because it was a crutch for me before and it would help to get me less stressed. So I started smoking again, not very often, but I smoked maybe one a week when I felt the depression setting in real strong. She was born completely healthy and still rarely goes to the doctor, rarely gets a cold. My second one, I smoked and was on birth control until I was 5 months pregnant, which was when I found out I was pregnant, it took me maybe 3 weeks to quit smoking completely with her, and I had her 2 months early, induced because she had utero growth retardation, she was 8 weeks early, 4lbs 5oz, but her lungs were fully developed and other than being premature, she was perfectly healthy. I didn't smoke at all with my 3rd (she was planned) and she was born with RSV. I don't smoke in the house, I don't smoke in the car and I don't allow others to do it either when my kids are around. I'm not saying one has to do with the other, mind you, you shouldn't smoke when your pregnant, common sense, but to each their own.

Now, my three step children, their mom smoked when she was pregnant, smoked in the house, in the car... they get colds pretty often as compared to my natural children, but still generally healthy as compared to other random kids.

Now, that said, my step kids were in a car accident with their mother about 6 years ago, my daughter took the impact and she has traumatic brain injury and left side paralysis.

So though I don't condone her smoking in the house when the kids are there for visitation, I'm honestly more scared of the ride home with her than anything else.

For the chick that said that all smokers are rude, I'll make a note of that, I was unaware, but I will try to work harder to live up to your expectations of me. All this time I've been trying to help out people like you (the dreaded non-smokers) by not smoking in public places and if you walk into my space I'll move away and blow my smoke the other way, and if you have a kid and walk by me, I'll hold my smoke in, that's right, I don't breath until that kid is well past me. Had I known that we are all rude, in order to gain the approval of my smoking peers, I would have tried harder to inconvenience all the perfect non smokers in the world.

And to the person that said we are bad parents because we smoke and aren't setting a good example, I would have to assumet that you have never said a bad word in front of your kid, drank and alcoholic beverage, or had an argument with your spouse where the kids could hear you, or lord forbid overate until you had to end up on weight loss forum. Surely you are here because you are perfect in every way and only looking for cyber friendships because you feel the need to spread your perfection through the internet.

never said all smokers are rude. In fact, if you read my earlier post I make a point to say thank you to the smokers who make an effort to avoid getting smoke near me and my family.

Enter snarky comment - I'm sorry to have offended the perfect smokers here on MFP. Most smokers are not like you. I know that all the smokers on a fitness and health website designed to help you reach healthy weight loss goals would never think to blow smoke in a non-smokers direction. end snarky comment

BTW, I like mini ravoili. Processed food tastes good :laugh:

This is the first time I've been replied to on MFP, I'm a little giddy, despite the snarky comments.

I'm not saying that myself or any other smoker or non smoker is perfect, I was being sarcasitic obviously. I'm just saying you can't take one thing and degrade the way a person lives because of that one thing, but if you have the stones to do it, look in the mirror first because I'm sure you have imperfections too.

I'm not saying I don't have flaws. However, mine do not impact the health of others.

See, here's my thought-- ever drive a car? Then yes, your decisions do have the potential to impact the health & lives of others (& smokers of course have the potential to impact the health of others, too). (And I just mean immediately, potential for wrecks, I'm not even talking about the long-term potential the waste from that car offers the lungs of the people on Earth). We could come up with other examples, but no one's hands are so clean on any of this. I lead pretty healthful pregnancies, but a lot of women will tell you that I shouldn't have had a coffee or glass of wine while breastfeeding, or that I will burn in Mommy hell for getting the epidural or for eating lunch meat.

Eh, let's just all live our own lives, none of us are perfect enough to worry too much about the imperfections of others unless they're on a much larger scale, IMO.

Munque

Eh, let's just all live our own lives, none of us are perfect enough to worry too much about the imperfections of others unless they're on a much larger scale, IMO.

Bravo, Bravo

RaeLB

Interesting topic.

I'm taking a Feminism & Anthropology course right now. One of the weeks we looked at motherhood. We read some articles were the anthropologists were arguing that pregnant women are no longer seen as persons. They argue that in our society we highly value bodily integrity, however once a woman becomes pregnant she no longer has the right to dictate what happens to her own body. Their autonomy is taken away from them and they're just seen as fetal incubators. It caused quite the debate.

wriglucy

Holy moly!!! I just read your topic without reading other's comments...so sorry if this offends anyone, or has been said already. But, for me...that's 100% child abuse!!!! To begin with! Crazy!! If you are pregnant...whether by accident or purpose, you have the responsibilty to create a good kid!!! If you happen to mess it up, the LEAST you can do is give it to a family that will care for him/her.

sorry..I have little to no respect for people who do that...seeing the negative effects it's been shown to do.

wriglucy

ooops...extra response

wriglucy

Sorry...I just saw this too about someone saying that it's to each their own. Sorry to say though...that if someone has a kid that is disabled because they chose to smoke...it does affect all of us. We pay for their health care...so that's why I say smoking while pregnant is child abuse...and ...probably abuse of the system as well.

Lsqueezy

Man, this topic's got me all stressed. I'm going out for a smoke :smokin:

Munque

Poll: How many women here are anti-smoking but pro-choice?

I don't think that smoking is good for the baby, or any person, but if a woman smokes her whole pregnancy or partially while she's trying to quit, or goes cold turkey is her own decision, so I'm not necessarily pro-smoking or anti-smoking, I'm pro-mind your own dang business And also pro-choice.

macpatti

Poll: How many women here are anti-smoking but pro-choice?

I just read this thread from beginning to end, and wondered the whole time when this would come up!

jenscot25

Poll: How many women here are anti-smoking but pro-choice?

I just read this thread from beginning to end, and wondered the whole time when this would come up!

Actually brought it up waaaay back around page 2:flowerforyou:

jenscot25

Sorry...I just saw this too about someone saying that it's to each their own. Sorry to say though...that if someone has a kid that is disabled because they chose to smoke...it does affect all of us. We pay for their health care...so that's why I say smoking while pregnant is child abuse...and ...probably abuse of the system as well.

So wrong on so many levels. Actually not in the mood to drop my IQ by 40 to reply to this.... Maybe after another drink I could reply:drinker:

jenscot25

Poll: How many women here are anti-smoking but pro-choice?

I don't think that smoking is good for the baby, or any person, but if a woman smokes her whole pregnancy or partially while she's trying to quit, or goes cold turkey is her own decision, so I'm not necessarily pro-smoking or anti-smoking, I'm pro-mind your own dang business And also pro-choice.

*Stands up and begins slow clap*

chezmama

Gosh, being pregnant was the only way I could quit. I loved smoking and I didn't care about my own health so much. But the thought of my child being born with asthma or some other respiratory issue and knowing my smoking may have caused it made it so worth it for me to quit. It was hard...especially the second time..but I did it! And though it was harder the second time, I was able to make it stick and I have been smoke free for about 14 years now. I don't ever even miss it!

EricNCSU

Many years ago (when I was still a smoker) i visited a friend who's younger sister was pregnant. She had quit smoking obviously, and me, her sister who I was visiting and her mother all had the courtesy to smoke outside. The BF/Fiance/Babydaddy whatever.. smoked in the house and blew cigarette smoke in her face as a joke. It took every ounce of strength I had in my body to not rip his throat out right then and there.........

I know what it's like... I smoked for 10 years.. i quit 5 years ago... but if someone has made that decision to quit (especially for a baby) don't smoke around them and dont blow smoke at them... for the love of god.....

KeegansMomma

It makes me sad when I see pregnant women smoking. My neighbors daughter would take drags off of other people's cigs when she was pregnant with her son (whom I've watched for the last 2 years). It made me mad and sad. I realise that quitting smoking isn't easy (I have a sister who smokes and even the e-cigs haven't helped her quit the habit).

uLinx

It's a personal decision, but smoking itself is always selfish.

ALWAYS!!! Smokers may say they don't hurt anyone but themselves. Well, guys, STOP FOOLING YOURSELVES!!! Smoke that crap, but drop that ****.

Sorry, but my mother died because of cigarettes. Now, it's my father's turn and I'm going all over that again. Well. They were selfish and they regretted it when they saw what it could cause to the people they love.

So, please, if you want, do smoke! And enjoy it! And kill yourself enjoying it! BUT NEVER EVER THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT ONLY CONCERNS YOU! It just isn't.

springfield5780

I quit smoking gradually at the beginning of my first pregnancy, at the advice of my doctor, I quit completely when i was 4 months pregnant (took a while because I was 16 and slightly stupid) Then my boyfriend was killed and I went into a tailspin of depression and the doctor advised me to start smoking again because it was a crutch for me before and it would help to get me less stressed. So I started smoking again, not very often, but I smoked maybe one a week when I felt the depression setting in real strong. She was born completely healthy and still rarely goes to the doctor, rarely gets a cold. My second one, I smoked and was on birth control until I was 5 months pregnant, which was when I found out I was pregnant, it took me maybe 3 weeks to quit smoking completely with her, and I had her 2 months early, induced because she had utero growth retardation, she was 8 weeks early, 4lbs 5oz, but her lungs were fully developed and other than being premature, she was perfectly healthy. I didn't smoke at all with my 3rd (she was planned) and she was born with RSV. I don't smoke in the house, I don't smoke in the car and I don't allow others to do it either when my kids are around. I'm not saying one has to do with the other, mind you, you shouldn't smoke when your pregnant, common sense, but to each their own.

Now, my three step children, their mom smoked when she was pregnant, smoked in the house, in the car... they get colds pretty often as compared to my natural children, but still generally healthy as compared to other random kids.

Now, that said, my step kids were in a car accident with their mother about 6 years ago, my daughter took the impact and she has traumatic brain injury and left side paralysis.

So though I don't condone her smoking in the house when the kids are there for visitation, I'm honestly more scared of the ride home with her than anything else.

For the chick that said that all smokers are rude, I'll make a note of that, I was unaware, but I will try to work harder to live up to your expectations of me. All this time I've been trying to help out people like you (the dreaded non-smokers) by not smoking in public places and if you walk into my space I'll move away and blow my smoke the other way, and if you have a kid and walk by me, I'll hold my smoke in, that's right, I don't breath until that kid is well past me. Had I known that we are all rude, in order to gain the approval of my smoking peers, I would have tried harder to inconvenience all the perfect non smokers in the world.

And to the person that said we are bad parents because we smoke and aren't setting a good example, I would have to assumet that you have never said a bad word in front of your kid, drank and alcoholic beverage, or had an argument with your spouse where the kids could hear you, or lord forbid overate until you had to end up on weight loss forum. Surely you are here because you are perfect in every way and only looking for cyber friendships because you feel the need to spread your perfection through the internet.

I think I love you! LOL

I am an Ex Smoker...Smoked with first kid...she had blood sugar issues in NICU 5 days I was assured it had nothing to do with smoking but I never forgave myself for it and she has been healthy since (She is 11). As soon as I found out I was pregnant with my son I threw the pack away because if not he would wind up in NICU with blood sugar problems obviously!!! He is the one that has breathing issues! ( and btw Im pretty sure he gave me asthma! *giggle*)

When I did smoke I also held my breath if someone walked by...I always prayed they would hurry because either that or I was gonna pass out with lungs full of smoke! I am a proud non smoker but I do not condemn a current smoker and quite honestly if I had not developed a case of asthma that landed me in the ER for 5 hours I would probably still be a smoker!