Hi all. I smoked my last cigarette 5 days ago. I have two small children (ages 3 and 1), and am almost 12 weeks pregnant with my third child. I'm ashamed to say I didn't quit when I was pregnant with my first two, I only cut down a bit. They were both born completely healthy and perfect, but I still feel badly about it. I did everything to give them a good start except quit.
I've been smoking since I was 14, and I just turned 25 a few months back. Recently, I've started experiencing chest congestion, and the smokers cough, which I never had before. I'd tried quitting before, and all the stresses in my life brought me right back to it, within 2-3 days, the cravings were SO overwhelming, even with nicotene gum.
I caught my 3 year old mimicking smoking, and that was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. I do not want my children to think smoking is okay just because Mommy does it. My husband smokes also, and he tells me he is just not ready to give it up. I can't make him, but he knows he can not smoke in the house, or the car.
Anyhow, I finished my last cigarette, I emptied my ashtrays, washed them all, and put them away. I always had a Coke when I smoked, so I finished my last Coke as well. I know that my drinking a Coke would make it harder for me to resist, because I'd enjoyed the two together for the past 8 years. I'm drinking lots of water, caffeine free teas, and chewing gum after meals, which is when the craving would be strongest for me.
Strangely enough, I haven't really had any cravings. I don't know if it's because of the preventative measures I automatically took, or what. It feels different this time, somehow. I signed up here though, because a lot of the people in my life smoke (ones I can't avoid completely), and I know I will need people to talk to during this journey.
So...yeah. Sorry this was so long.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 11/12/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 5
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 105
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $12.5
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 26 [B]Seconds:[/B] 31