Want to quit smoking?
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Q.
I AM 17 WEEKS PREGNANT. I SMOKE 10 TO 15 CIGARRETTES A DAY.
I WANT TO QUIT. IS IT TOO LATE TO QUIT OR HAS THE DAMAGE ALREADY BEEN DONE?
A.
It would be best to consult with your Dr. but from my experience it is not too late to quit. It is just a bit harder to quit while pregnant. Many Dr's just advise to gradually decrease your smoking to a few cigarettes a day. You can quit if you can do it gradually enough not to stress your unborn baby. The less Nicotine you take in the better it is for your baby so smoking just a few cigarettes a day is definitely better than 10 to 15 a day.
As far as affecting the birth-weight of your baby that remains to be seen. That depends largely on your nutritional status as a whole. From what research shows each time you smoke a cigarette it decreases the blood flow (and therefore oxygen) to your baby so the less frequently you cause this change in your body the better it is for your unborn baby. If you quit too quickly and you experience "physical" (not emotional, psychological) withdrawal symptoms it can stress to your baby.
Mary Howard is a Registered Nurse, mother of two, and enjoys natural gardening. Come visit her Homegrown web site