Benefits to Baby If You Quit Smoking Early

on March 31, 2009 at 12:16 PM

smoking during pregnancy

Gwyneth Paltrow likes to smoke. I read recently that she smoked her last cigarette when she found out she was pregnant with her first child, daughter Apple, but that she plans to take it up again when she's 70 (and can't wait.)

I don't know how far along she was when she took that last puff, but new research says that pregnant moms who stop smoking before the 15th week have rates of preterm birth and smaller babies comparable to those of non-smoking women.

The results, from a study of 2500 first-time moms-to-be, found that "these severe adverse effects of smoking may be reversible if smoking is stopped early in pregnancy."

Are you a pregnant smoker, or were you a smoker until you found out you were pregnant? If you stopped, how far along were you?

Filed Under: 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, is it safe, pregnancy health

Comments (7)

zoozleroo

on Mar 31, 2009 at 12:55 PM

I was, i quit the first week of January, at 6 months prego. I've wanted to quit for years and just couldnt. I had tried and failed so many times...I always knew if i became pregnant i would quit, no question, and i did and i couldnt...I was so upset with myself that i couldn't put it down. I had been smoking for 15 years, 2 packs a day for 12. Then we had/having a preenclampsia scare and i have not smoked since.

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iluvmyboys2008

on Mar 31, 2009 at 2:21 PM

I quit when I found out I was pregnant with my first at 3 months. Then I started again when he was 4 months old. With my youngest I found out at the beginning and quit within the first 2 months. He just turned 2 and I am still smoke free!

gypsysmiles

on Mar 31, 2009 at 2:54 PM

That is logical. But I don't understand why people smoke to begin with.

doodlemom85

on Mar 31, 2009 at 3:20 PM

I quit when I suspected I was pregant. Luckily, I caught it early and stopped less than a month into my pregnancy. It was really easy to stop, but then again, i didn't really smoke more than a pack every three days or so. I'm 23 weeks now and starting to miss it. Everyone, especially my fiance, says I should quit for good now since it's already been so long, but I'll probably pick it up again, although not til after I stop breastfeeding. My fiance is getting deployed next year and I'm sure I'll be stressed!

NotVeryClever

on Mar 31, 2009 at 9:32 PM

I quit when I missed my period. Just in case I was. I didn't miss it for awhile but now at 25 weeks I'm dying to smoke again. I keep dreaming about it.

mommy2bn2010

on Jul 5, 2009 at 5:59 PM

I quit smoking the day I could not stand the smell. It was about my ninth week. I have a puff or two when I get upset, I end up feeling guilty.

Frankysmokes

on May 20, 2010 at 5:01 AM

Well, if you were a heavy smoker before pregnancy, most doctors (and yes, I say most, because I have called around to doctors in my area regarding this) will tell you to CUT DOWN, before totally quitting. Smoking 1 or 2 a day is a LOT better than say, a pack or two a day. I quit .. I smoked a pack a day pre-pregnancy, then gradually cut down to half a pack, then five a day, then two a day, then one a day, then a half of one a day, now NOTHING. It's not easy at all. Not everyone can do it, regardless of what people will say. You should gradually quit. Now I can experience more stop smoking benefits.

FSmokes