Photo Credit: Angela Powell, 2021
I used to smoke 20 cigarettes per day. When I found out I was pregnant I quit right away but not without some challenges along the way.
I’m here to tell you 10 things you can do to quit smoking easier and safer while pregnant.
I have found mindfulness to be the best way to stay smoke-free after I stopped smoking. It helped me reduce my anxiety and let go of the cravings.
To practice mindfulness, you need to become aware of your present moment, without judgment. This can help you to sort through your feelings about quitting and move that way into a smoke-free life.
Try this by being aware of your breathing, your environment, your thoughts, your body, even your emotions. Just notice whatever is going on around you.
Do this for a while every day. I usually spend 10 minutes meditating this way.
Practicing mindfulness while you are pregnant will help you find some sense of control over your life. You can try guided meditations or watch videos on YouTube to help you on your journey.
Don’t look too far into the future. Part of staying motivated is to take things day by day.
On the days you’re craving a cigarette, focus on what you’ve accomplished so far.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy does not replace nicotine. It only replaces cigarettes with another way of getting nicotine into your body.
This means the drug will get absorbed by the baby’s bloodstream as well.
A study published by the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics states that nicotine replacement therapy “renders the maternal and fetal systems more sensitive to nicotine.”
On top of that, NRT won’t remove your mental desire to smoke. That is the main reason why people relapse long after nicotine leaves their bodies.
When you feel “stressed,” “angry,” “anxious,” or “depressed,” ask yourself: “When have I felt this way before?”
Identify what you attributed those feelings to in the past and find a new way to cope with those feelings.
Take a walk, call a friend, take a bath, read a book, walk the dog, go to a comedy club.
Do something constructive instead of turning to smoking.
The best thing you can do is to set a reminder on your phone or place a reminder on your calendar to help you remember why you’re quitting.
I recommend setting a timer for five minutes every day to do something you enjoy. Maybe you could watch a movie, read a book, take a walk outside, or do a craft.
Whatever it is, use this time to relax and fill your mind with something that makes you happy.
This includes any cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays, and matches.
Make sure you’re disposing of these properly to avoid a fire. If you have a problem with throwing these items out, you could sell them.
Or you could donate them to a recycling center.
You already have one big reason to quit smoking – your baby.
But there are lots of other reasons to quit smoking, including taking back control of your life, saving money for your baby, having happier friends and family members, and being around to meet your grandchildren!
Write down all the reasons you can think of to quit smoking.
When you’re feeling like smoking, pick up the list and read it. It might help you realize how many great things will happen when you quit.
Writing a list of benefits is also a great way to keep track of your progress. And if you want to pass the list on to someone else, that’s fine, too.
Once in a while, make a point to reward yourself with a small gift.
It doesn’t have to be a big reward—just a little something special.
You could buy a book or a movie, or you could get a manicure, a pedicure, or a massage.
Make a plan on how you’re going to lose all the things that remind you of smoking.
These can include anything from your coffee cups to your ashtray.
When you’re ready to put the plan into action, start peeling away these reminders of your previous life as a smoker. Better still, get rid of them and replace them with new stuff.
There are many quit smoking methods online but only one that worked for me.
I recommend using the Quit Guru program. This program will educate you on why you have become hooked on cigarettes. It will help you find out your genuine reasons for quitting and lose your desire for cigarettes before you stop smoking.
Don’t make quitting smoking difficult for yourself. Doing it with the right quit smoking program might just be the help that you need right now.
Try out the Quit Guru program risk-free and discover the way to quit smoking without pain and anxiety.
Click this link and get 35% off the program with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
About the Author: Angela Powell is a wife and mother of two. She has quit smoking in April 2020.
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