Better understanding the effects of cigarettes helps
The announcement of pregnancy is a wonderful motivation for all smokers to quit. But for some, taking action sometimes remains very difficult and moreover, in France, more than 30% of women reach term without having been able to free themselves from this dependence.
Partly because the harms of tobacco remain unclear.
The placenta cannot filter everything:
During pregnancy, the baby receives oxygen via the blood of the mother-to-be. However, under the influence of tobacco, the blood becomes loaded with harmful substances. As the placental barrier is not able to filter everything, these substances then reach the fetus via the umbilical cord. As tobacco also has a vasoconstrictor effect, reducing the diameter of the arteries, the baby's oxygenation is also more limited.
Several consequences:
It is clear today that smoking causes a delay in in-uterine growth resulting at birth in lower weight, smaller height and head circumference, and delayed growth of the lungs. Respiratory problems are also more common among “baby smokers” whose risk of premature birth is also multiplied by three. And, it is better not to ignore it, smoking also increases the risks of fetal malformations, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. But understanding the harms of cigarettes is not enough; it is often useful to get help using a suitable method.
Finding the right method to quit is essential
Each tobacco addiction being personal (psychological, physiological, etc.), the method which will allow you to quit must also be. Nothing is more demotivating than “holding on” and ending up breaking down...
Specialized consultations:
They now exist in many maternity wards and make it possible to implement a strategy adapted to each case. Including cognitive therapies. This is the best solution for those who know from the outset that they will not be able to easily quit on their own.
Substitutes:
Patches, gums... they are authorized for pregnant women, reduce withdrawal and risks and must be prescribed by a doctor or tobacco specialist.
Alternative medicines:
Acupuncture, auriculotherapy, hypnosis... they act both by triggering a disgust for tobacco and by calming emotions. Sophrology allows you to put in place psychological mechanisms to compensate for the lack.
Multiply the tips to avoid breaking down, it works!
Convincing yourself that smoking less than 5 cigarettes per day remains tolerable is an illusion: carbon monoxide, the main toxic substance, remains present. Furthermore, when they reduce their consumption, heavy smokers puff on their cigarettes more and therefore increase the harmfulness of combustion products (tar and carbon monoxide).
It is always better to stop smoking completely and, depending on the method chosen, to use these few tips if the urge becomes too strong:
Mimic the gestures:
Holding a pen, putting it in your mouth, in short replacing the cigarette gesture which is an integral part of addiction, particularly on the telephone...
Divert attention :
Keep your hands busy by using them for skin care, for example... as pleasant as they are useful.
Feel fresh:
By brushing your teeth several times a day, the healthy feeling that comes from it makes the idea of tobacco distasteful.
Avoid temptations:
No post-lunch coffee which would automatically bring to mind the traditional accompanying cigarette.
Swallow something:
Preferably a large glass of water which curbs cravings, calms hunger and hydrates. Avoid chewing gum and sweets, even “sugar-free”. The classics are full of fast sugars which cause cravings. As for sugar-free products, they contain polyols that some people digest poorly, which causes fermentation, gas and bloating.
Take a relaxation break:
An abdominal breathing exercise that eases tension or a positive visualization session.
In any case, if the urge to smoke becomes too strong, you should not hesitate to consult again and again so that the specialists can help you find the weaning method that will suit you.
And the electronic cigarette, then?
Driven by real commercial success, the e-cigarette is the subject of debate. Although studies show that this product contains proportionally fewer toxic substances than tobacco, no global study can however certify its long-term safety.
Because, in addition to alcohol, the liquids contain potentially toxic chemicals including carcinogenic molecules (acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde). As it does not contain tar or carbon monoxide, it seems less toxic than “real” cigarettes but is in no way part of the cessation aid products.