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It is natural to want to hide an addiction from people. It is not about image, but it is about shame. Anyone who has suffered with addiction knows what I am talking about. The shame leads us to want to hide it from others. Good luck ladies:)

Jen, Really how bad are those non-alcoholic beers? I have been craving a beer so bad I can taste it. but I won't have the real thing! Is there a particular one you would reccomment I try?

The thing that gets me is how condemning people are of pot smoking, but seemingly not of cigarettes. I found that quitting cigarettes was much easier for me. And yes, I did quit both. But why the hypocritical view of what is okay to smoke and what is not??? Does anyone else think this is ironic?

Cathy, none of them are great and it doesn't seem to matter what brand you get they all have that very distinct non alcholic taste but i read somewhere to add lime juice and that does seem to work, takes that bitter taste away. I buy either Coor's, Sharps or St. Paulie makes one too, and then pick up a bottle of lime juice, pop beer and pour a little in and i just take a straw and kindof mix it around, it doesn't taste to bad, what i have right now at home is Coor's, and yes, I love beer and wine, but i'm being good, i'm just having a hard time trying to find stuff to drink right now, something other than water, (boring but good for you), i'm a diet coke fanatic, so have to cut out caffine, still have a couple a day, decaf latte's, but that get's expensive...hate sprite and 7-up...anyway, try the lime thing, you may like it, if not, don't waste your money, those non alcholice beers are pricey too....

I hate when people give pregnant women who smoke nasty looks...I never have smoked..but I do sympathize with women who smoke when they are pregnant, cause we all know quitting is hard enough without being pregnant..but add in the fact that your emotions are skyrocketing and that you don't even have the option of using the patch or nicotine gum or any other aid in quitting. One of my best friends tried really hard to quit while she was pregnant, but it was so hard for her..she did cut back big time though..she only had a few smokes a week and she spaced them out (a couple puffs here and there) Her baby was born with a mild case of jaundice, nothing too serious..and now she is almost 1 year old and very healthy. =)

My mother smoked the whole time she was pregnant with me and I am perfectly fine. Although I too am a smoker which I dont know if that has anything to do with my mother smoking. But I quit right when I found out I was pregnant, but it was really eqasy for me for some reason. I still have smoke every now and then though. But honestly I think it should be fine.

I had to quit....the baby said so! Everytime I would hit a cigarette....I would gag! LOL. I got tired of gagging! So if any smokers wanna quit while pregnant I wish for you to gag! Good Luck!

I used to smoke about 1/2 pack a day until I found out I was prego. I had a previous m/c and was too paranoid to smoke! I've been wanting to stop for a while so hopefully I won't go back after I have the baby. My husband smokes now & it drives me crazy!! He cut down a lot so hopefully he'll quit eventually! Good luck to all!!

i am having the worst time quitting. I know i should quit, but i havent even been able to cut down! I am almost in my third trimester and that worries me alot. I crave them worse than i crave food. I have tried everything, including smokers anonomous. Nothing is helping.. I literally dream about smoking it's so awful! I don't know what to do.. i already have one child and had no problem cutting down to four smokes a day then.. i don't know what makes this so different or why i crave them so badly. I am smoking atleast a half a pack a day, sometimes more which is alot for me, even when i'm not pregnant (used to smoked about 10 a day, i'm actually going UP). I feel so awful and guilty and ashamed.

I am 17 weeks. In the beginning I cut down to 1/2 pack a day and I swithched to Ultra Lights. When I found out my fiance was cheating I started smoking almost 2 packs a day. I am trying to cut down again. I have found that switching back to regular lights has been a big help because they make me sick if I smoke too much. There are a lot of threats with smoking while pregnant, but don't stress yourself out over them. Just do the best you can. You should be proud of yourself anyways Flores, you are doing better than most.

When I was pregnant with my second....which was twins..I smoked 10 ciggs a day. at 18 weeks I lost one twin (vanishing twin syndrom) My Dr. said not enough oxygen for both babies...Because I smoked.

Someone suggested that if you do smoke during pregnancy that you should try to do deep breathing exercises at least 4 times a day

hello, i am having the same problem. i am so stressed, maybe we can find an answer together ravalina@aol.com

Sometimes facts can work..........Babies of women who smoke during pregnancy have an increased risk of colds, chest infections, cot death/SIDS. Infants exposed after birth to 1-10 ciggs per day were teice as likely to die of SIDS, 11-20 ciggs per day were 3-5 times more likely to die from SIDS, over 21 cigarettes per day were 23 times more likely to die of SIDS than infants not exposed to cigarette smoke.One of the most concerning effects of smoking during pregnancy is that the baby’s growth is restricted. A baby of a woman who smokes weighs on average 170 to 200 grams lighter. The more a woman smokes the greater the weight reduction. Having a smaller baby is not a positive thing. A smaller baby does not mean that the birth will be easier. The reason babies are smaller is that cigarette smoking restricts blood vessels therefore reducing the amount of nutrients and oxygen reaching the baby. This leads to a lower birth weight and a baby more prone to becoming ill after birth. Research has found that potential effects of smoking during pregnancy include an increased chance of genetic abnormalities. There has been a__sociations made between pregnant women smoking and increased chance of cleft lip, cleft palate, problems with bowel, eyes, ears and spinal cord. There are also increased abnormalities found with the placentas. The effects of smoking goes beyond the birth. There have been links made between women smoking during pregnancy and their children developing respiratory problems, such as asthma, later in childhood.Around 20 per cent of pregnant women smoke. Of these women, over half smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day. Only about four per cent of women who smoke manage to stop smoking in the second half of their pregnancy. It is known that if you are able to stop smoking in the first half of your pregnancy, that by the time of birth the baby will be close to normal size. However there is no safe level of smoking.smoking can affect pregnancy. Smoking increases heart rate, increases blood pressure and depresses the nervous system. This not only effects the baby but causes increased complications for the mother. The increased rate of chest infections and blood clotting disorders is of particular concern. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of ectopic (OK) pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, problems with the placenta, vomiting requiring hospitalisation, bleeding during pregnancy, polyhydramnios (OK) (too much amniotic fluid), thrush, urinary tract infections and premature birth. Again the more the woman smokes, the higher the risk of complications. I know its hard, but i had this overpowering feeling to look after my baby, thats why i stopped, smoking a packet a day, as soon as i found out!

we know it is an addiction and is hard to quit. What we have a hard time understanding is not why you would smoke, it is why you would not do everything to try to quit. Your doctors can help with this. It is not being judgemental of us, we are being caring for your health and your baby's. Good luck!

My pregnancy was a surprise, prior to finding out, and for about 6 weeks I continued to smoke...at 12 weeks I stopped completely