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two weeks locked in a padded room would be the only solution for myself although I have not tried yet .(I hate smoking too) I think you and I need a good support system almost like we need people to babysit us through it , 'sad and shameful , isn't it ' ?

First of all, cutting down considerably while pregnant IS one of the best decisions you could have made. Being a smoker, I know that smoking while pregnant isn't a "decision", it's a biological need for the nicotine, it's an addiction. I also think that cutting down can in the long run help you quit. Try smoking only outdoors and wait as long as you can til you give in. Being wintertime now, having to go outside to smoke will keep you from smoking. Also, try smoking only half of your cigs at a time. As you wean yourself off, you should be weaning your addiction. Does this make sense? I do all of these things and now I'm down to 1-2/day and smoking only half makes it that much better for me. This is also what I did when I was preg, so you're not alone! Good luck!

Thanks for replying! I agree with the padded, not to mention soundproof room. I do smoke only outdoors and smoke on average 1/2 pack a day. I cut down to 10 or less while pregnant. In the hospital I quit for a few days, then as soon as I got out, I couldn't resist the urge to light one up! Also, I smoke half a cigarette at a time, usually. :( Its an endless battle. :( I must say I had a feeling of relief sweep over me when I noticed someone had replied to my post! I was even more pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't about how terrible I am!

My grandmother was a very heavy smoker (at least a pack a day, depending on the day) and had tried everything to quit and nothing worked. Like you, while in the hospital she would be ok and then as soon as she stepped out she would lite on up. I know alot of people on here are going to disagree with me but she did this and even if it was just a psychological thing it worked. She was hypnotized. She had tried doctors, patches, using straws, gum, shots, etc (you name it she tried it) She went and saw an all natural doctor and he referred her to a hypnotist. I have heard of people doing this for weight loss, OCD, moodswings, drinking, speeding, and many many more things. If you are open to new suggestions, I would try this if I were you, just look in the phone book, maybe someone that has their phd in psychology or something.

Bet you haven't tried this one: Don't smoke in your car! When I was trying to quit when I was pregnant, I knew I had made a breakthrough when I made it to and from walmart without even thinking of lighting up. I got home and told my dh and he was like "Yay! Go Baby!" I know what you mean as there have been some really rude people that like to comment on this issue.

I do not smoke myself (I'm not even old enough to buy a pack of cigarettes, lol) but my dad has been a very heavy smoker since he was 16 and is now 51. His doctor actually called him the "poster child for why you shouldn't smoke." He is probably going to die in the next 5 years or so according to his doctor. He has lung cancer, emphysema, COPD (where your nails fall off and hair falls out on your legs because not enough oxygen gets through your blood stream) chronic bronchitis, and asthma. He is going to have to be on a breathing machine, too. It is really sad because I have 2 sisters, 11 years old and 6 years old, who aren't going to have him around. He never has the breath to play with them like normal parents, and they never have extra money because they (my mom too) smoke and always have to buy cigarettes. I would say to best smoking cure would be a look into the future. You really don't want to not be able to play with your grandkids from being too out of breath do you? Anyway, good luck on your quest to quit smoking. :o)

I'm not a smoker but my husband is. When our son was born on his fathers birthday, I typed him a letter (info from the internet) about all cons of second hand smoke for babies(from ashes on toys, carpets, in the car, clothing, breath) and asked him to quit. I posted it in the washroom, so everytime he would go in there it would remind him. He set a date to quit. He said that when his last pack of cigarettes would finished he would not buy another one. He will also let his friends know. His friends are all non smokers. He also had snacks in the car. Anyways it worked for 2 weeks until he WENT TO BUY another pack and now he tells me he smokes only 3 a day. It takes a lot of work. My mother-in-law decided on her own to quit cold turkey. She did it for her own health reasons. She said it was very hard for her, especially having her husband smoke next to her at work(they work together and smoke a pack a day each). She says that she no longer has coughs and phlem ever since she quit but when she's in the car with her husband and he smokes, she has to clear her lungs and keeps coughing. She hates the cough and doesn't see herself going back. My dad also quit cold turkey recently. Again he did it for health reasons for himself. Its hard but it can be done. Do it for yourself and for your children. Hang in there and don't give up like my husband. I get so angry when I find out but that does not help, the will has to come from him.

geez now that was the best statement I have ever heard . that is exacty what goes through my mind daily and probably every smokers mind . I have two kids younger than your siblings and not a day goes by where I don't worry about it . I can still play any game with my kids but know that eventually I'm going to have everything you described . A doctor showed how much scar tissue I have in my lungs (X-RAY)and showed me on a graph that if I quit now it would level off with a slight decline in breathing ability for the next 12 years but after that would fall rapidly anyway for a maximum of 5 years . that scares me . Its like I'm told I have seventeen years to go .

That is really sad and I'm so sorry for you. Neither me or my husband smoke, but both my parents, his dad and brother, one of my brothers, both my brothers girlfriends and almost all my friends smoke. I try to tell them all the effects it has and they know but won't quit. I understand it is hard, but when I think of all the side-effects, I wonder how anyone can do it. Addiction is a hard thing to beat and kudos to you if you are able to quit. It is so much better on your families and yourself. I feel kind of bad like I'm preaching, but I want to help anyone I can. Another friend of mine recently started doing meth, which I think is much worse than just cigarettes. I tried to tell her not to for obvious reason and now she wants a baby. It is very heartbreaking. Everytime I see a teen or anyone smoking, I try to warn them about the side effects. The worst thing though is when people who don't normally smoke start. Really, I hope I helped in some way and best of luck to you.

I smoked for nearly 10 years; I quit when I found out I was pregnant, and it was simply a choice that I would be stronger than my addiction. My husband and I had a discussion about smoking; it's a personal decision, and mine to make - it's my body. But, while pregnant, any decision I made affecting my body also affected my unborn child. I did not have the right to make a personal decision that she would be a smoker. Now that I'm not pregnant anymore - I still don't have the right to make that decision for my daughter, because I b___stfeed exclusively. I might consider starting again, if my daughter would take formula, but she won't, so I don't.

if you want to cut back from half a cig you could smoke half a (newer) marlboro 72 they are shorter then the usual cigarete but they arent available in as much varity

If you cut down while you were pregnant, would it not be easier to try cutting down before quitting completly. When I stopped smoking I just stopped. didn't do patches or nothing.

It's really hard being around peolpe who smoke and trying to quit (my bf smokes as do all my friends) I can't quit completely but I found that cutting out one cigarette from your "smoking routine" helps, I cut out my morning smoke first, now I go to work and don't smoke there either, then when that stopped bothereing me I cut out the after food smoke, just slowly cutting out every smoke helps. I now have less then one smoke a day and although I'm dissapointed in not being able to give it up completely, I've come so far that if I were to go back after giving birth I would be so dissapointed in myself. (I'm currently 30 weeks preggo) When I crave a smoke really badly and start getting stressed out and b___hy then I'll have a drag, but I won't have one if I'm bored, or full, or because everyone else is, you just have to push back having one until you feel like your going to snap, then either have a drag, or half a smoke. I hope this helps you, I plan on giving it up for good once the baby gets here, and hopefully I'll be strong enough not to go back. The true test will be that first gla__s of wine, or that beer when camping, but even if I give n every once in awhile that doesn't mean that I've failed. Just be positive and reward yourself for accomplishing your quitting "steps"

To the person who suggested Marlboro 72's...the filter is shorter than regular ones, so it's actually worse...My husband just quit smoking a week ago, and he's so smug about it, but what he found that worked for him was drinking a bottle of water instead of having a cigarette. He also decided he could have a better cell phone with the money he saved by not smoking, so that was another motivation for him. I haven't found a good motivation for myself yet.

Well, since everyone else is coming out of the closet, so will I then! I'm a smoker (gasp!), and have also tried everything to quit. I find that taking one day at a time is all that we can do. Not having a smoke, when you really need one the most is a great beginning. Like when you're in the car, after you eat, on the phone,or when you're on the computer! I haven't been able to quit altogether, but have cut back tremendously. I'm hoping that by the New Year, I will have this habit licked! Jbear mentioned having a great motivation! For her husband it was a better cellphone, for me it's new b___bs! Ashamed, dont feel bad! You are not alone, and I think that if us ladies on this thread can admit we need help, and support eachother, then we all just may be able to quit!

Not to mention... my Dh and I have started RESP's for the kids, and I would rather my money spent on smoking, go to my childrens education.