Our 19 year old friend who is pregnanct has smoked for the past 5 years at least. She tried to quit many times but it never "stuck". She stopped cold turkey the day she found out she was pregnant and feels wonderful! I just wanted to mention her success and sayhow proud we are of her.

That is a very important thing to do. I was a smoker for about 5 years before I got pregnant. The instant I knew, I stopped. Unfortunately I started up again afterward. I have since quit again and have just passed my 100th day without a cigarette. Smoking during pregnancy is dangerous.

That's great!! And so much healthier for the baby too! We're visiting my parents on vacation and the other night ran into a girl sitting at the bar, drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette and obviously pregnant. I felt so sorry for both the woman, who apparently had need to do such a thing, and especially for that little child and the indirect harm that was occuring. :-(

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Tigriz
Mom to Alex - 1/21/06

It is hard to see women who are pregnant smoking and drinking. I don't believe they have a "need" to do it, but a "want" and they need to realize that their action DIRECTLY, not indirectly harm their unborn child. (Sorry this sounds soap-boxish - but it really gets my dander up.)

I think most people, if not all, are aware that smoking and drinking can harm their child. However, many people don't have the emotional strenght, the care, or the will to give up an addiction.

One of the things that might happen negatively if a mother smokes during pregnancy is that the baby might be born with special needs and have other kinds of deficiencies which mothers must take into consideration, especially those who just don't have the will give up this addiction.

Melos - you are right, and I do understand that addictions are difficult to deal with. I did sound a bit soap-boxish there. I guess I would hope that at least someone would try to stop , or cut back during their pregnancy.