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| Sudbury Ont. |
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| 673-0001 |
Pregnancy gives you a huge incentive to quit smoking,
but it also complicates your choice of methods. You may
not be able to quit on your own, but you also have to think
twice before exposing your baby to the medications in
pills and patches. So what are the best options?
Successful quitters have found different ways to kick the
habit. Some try the drug bupropion (Zyban) or nicotine
patches, gums, or sprays — which are generally safe
when used under the guidance of a doctor. (They're
certainly safer than cigarettes.) Others try counseling,
perhaps in combination with a medication. Others just
go the old-fashioned route and throw away their
cigarettes. No approach is right for everyone, and you
may have to try a few different strategies or combinations
before you find the one that works for you. Here's a look
at your options.
but it also complicates your choice of methods. You may
not be able to quit on your own, but you also have to think
twice before exposing your baby to the medications in
pills and patches. So what are the best options?
Successful quitters have found different ways to kick the
habit. Some try the drug bupropion (Zyban) or nicotine
patches, gums, or sprays — which are generally safe
when used under the guidance of a doctor. (They're
certainly safer than cigarettes.) Others try counseling,
perhaps in combination with a medication. Others just
go the old-fashioned route and throw away their
cigarettes. No approach is right for everyone, and you
may have to try a few different strategies or combinations
before you find the one that works for you. Here's a look
at your options.
Quitting cold turkey
How it works: You throw out your cigarettes and vow not to smoke again.
Safety: You may feel lousy for a few weeks, but you won't be doing yourself or your baby any harm. There's no
evidence that the stress of quitting has any effect on a fetus.
Success rate: In the general population, only about one in 20 people who go cold turkey without any other quitting
aid manage to stay away from cigarettes. But during pregnancy you're more likely to beat those odds because
you're more motivated to quit. And you can boost your chances of success by trying nicotine replacement or one of
the other quitting aids listed below.
Pros: Quitting cold turkey is inexpensive and safe. If you do it on your own, you won't have to make a doctor's
appointment or get a prescription. Most important, you'll immediately stop exposing your baby to carbon monoxide,
nicotine, and other dangerous chemicals in cigarettes.
Cons: If you're a heavy smoker, you can expect to suffer from nicotine withdrawal for two to three weeks after
quitting cold turkey. Symptoms include irritability, depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and
restlessness. For the first couple of weeks, you'll also have powerful cravings for cigarettes.
Quitting gradually
How it works: You gradually cut back on cigarettes until you're down to zero.
Safety: This method is completely safe — if you do it quickly enough. As long as you're cigarette-free by the time
you're 14 weeks pregnant, doctors say, your baby isn't likely to be harmed. But if you're still smoking after that point
— even if it's just one or two cigarettes a day — you could be stunting your baby's growth and opening the door to
complications.
Success rate: Overall, cutting back gradually is no more effective than quitting cold turkey — it works for roughly one
in 20 smokers.* However, the small-steps approach may be a better choice if you smoke a pack a day or more.
Pros: Quitting gradually may help minimize the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, especially if you're a heavy
smoker. Your body will have a chance to slowly adjust to the diminishing supply of nicotine in your bloodstream.
Cons: Those last couple of cigarettes may be especially hard to give up. And until you quit completely, you're
still endangering your baby and yourself.
How it works: You throw out your cigarettes and vow not to smoke again.
Safety: You may feel lousy for a few weeks, but you won't be doing yourself or your baby any harm. There's no
evidence that the stress of quitting has any effect on a fetus.
Success rate: In the general population, only about one in 20 people who go cold turkey without any other quitting
aid manage to stay away from cigarettes. But during pregnancy you're more likely to beat those odds because
you're more motivated to quit. And you can boost your chances of success by trying nicotine replacement or one of
the other quitting aids listed below.
Pros: Quitting cold turkey is inexpensive and safe. If you do it on your own, you won't have to make a doctor's
appointment or get a prescription. Most important, you'll immediately stop exposing your baby to carbon monoxide,
nicotine, and other dangerous chemicals in cigarettes.
Cons: If you're a heavy smoker, you can expect to suffer from nicotine withdrawal for two to three weeks after
quitting cold turkey. Symptoms include irritability, depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and
restlessness. For the first couple of weeks, you'll also have powerful cravings for cigarettes.
Quitting gradually
How it works: You gradually cut back on cigarettes until you're down to zero.
Safety: This method is completely safe — if you do it quickly enough. As long as you're cigarette-free by the time
you're 14 weeks pregnant, doctors say, your baby isn't likely to be harmed. But if you're still smoking after that point
— even if it's just one or two cigarettes a day — you could be stunting your baby's growth and opening the door to
complications.
Success rate: Overall, cutting back gradually is no more effective than quitting cold turkey — it works for roughly one
in 20 smokers.* However, the small-steps approach may be a better choice if you smoke a pack a day or more.
Pros: Quitting gradually may help minimize the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, especially if you're a heavy
smoker. Your body will have a chance to slowly adjust to the diminishing supply of nicotine in your bloodstream.
Cons: Those last couple of cigarettes may be especially hard to give up. And until you quit completely, you're
still endangering your baby and yourself.
Nicotine replacement
How it works: Nicotine is the addictive chemical in cigarettes. Nicotine patches, gums, and sprays help prevent
nicotine withdrawal when you quit.
Safety: Nobody knows exactly how nicotine affects a growing fetus or how much it contributes to low birth weight,
premature birth, and other complications. But since nicotine is just one of many toxins in cigarette smoke, this
method is almost certainly safer for you and your baby than smoking. Still, you should talk to your doctor before
trying any type of nicotine replacement. Gums and sprays are considered safer than patches because the short
bursts of nicotine they provide add up to smaller doses of nicotine than you'd get from a patch (or from smoking,
for that matter). A patch may still be a good choice if you're too nauseated to try anything else, but you should only
use brands that release nicotine for 16 hours instead of 24. The 16-hour patches are just as effective as the
all-day patches, but they'll put less nicotine in your system.
Success rate: Nicotine replacement can boost smokers' chances of quitting successfully, from roughly one in 20
to one in ten.*
Pros: Nicotine replacement treatments can help take the edge off your cigarette cravings. These treatments can
be especially helpful if you're a heavy smoker or have had trouble quitting cold turkey.
Cons: There's a small chance that nicotine replacement treatments could be harmful to your baby, especially
if you wear a 24-hour patch or overuse gum or sprays. Talk to your doctor before giving them a try.
Cost: About $120 to $140 for a one-month supply of gum, $70 to $100 for a one-month supply of patches, and
$160 for a one-month supply of nasal spray. (Note: Many insurance companies will cover part or most of the cost
of smoking cessation treatments.)
Bupropion (Zyban)
How it works: This medication was originally marketed as an antidepressant under the brand name Wellbutrin.
Doctors noticed that patients taking the drug were unusually successful in their attempts to quit smoking.
Researchers aren't sure why it helps smokers quit.
Safety: Bupropion is generally considered safe, but it has never been thoroughly studied in pregnant women.
Large doses of the drug have been known to cause seizures. (There are no reports of this ever happening to a
pregnant woman taking the medicine to quit smoking.) The drug may not be safe for women who are already at a
high risk of seizures, including those with preeclampsia or a history of preeclampsia. Bupropion passes through
breast milk, so it isn't recommended for nursing mothers.
Success rate: Bupropion can boost smokers' chances of quitting successfully from roughly one in 20 to one in
ten.*
Pros: Bupropion is nicotine-free and easy to take. As a bonus, smokers who quit with the help of bupropion tend
to gain less weight than other quitters.
Cons: Known side effects include insomnia, dry mouth, and nausea. It's unknown what effect, if any, this
medication could have on your developing baby.
How it works: Nicotine is the addictive chemical in cigarettes. Nicotine patches, gums, and sprays help prevent
nicotine withdrawal when you quit.
Safety: Nobody knows exactly how nicotine affects a growing fetus or how much it contributes to low birth weight,
premature birth, and other complications. But since nicotine is just one of many toxins in cigarette smoke, this
method is almost certainly safer for you and your baby than smoking. Still, you should talk to your doctor before
trying any type of nicotine replacement. Gums and sprays are considered safer than patches because the short
bursts of nicotine they provide add up to smaller doses of nicotine than you'd get from a patch (or from smoking,
for that matter). A patch may still be a good choice if you're too nauseated to try anything else, but you should only
use brands that release nicotine for 16 hours instead of 24. The 16-hour patches are just as effective as the
all-day patches, but they'll put less nicotine in your system.
Success rate: Nicotine replacement can boost smokers' chances of quitting successfully, from roughly one in 20
to one in ten.*
Pros: Nicotine replacement treatments can help take the edge off your cigarette cravings. These treatments can
be especially helpful if you're a heavy smoker or have had trouble quitting cold turkey.
Cons: There's a small chance that nicotine replacement treatments could be harmful to your baby, especially
if you wear a 24-hour patch or overuse gum or sprays. Talk to your doctor before giving them a try.
Cost: About $120 to $140 for a one-month supply of gum, $70 to $100 for a one-month supply of patches, and
$160 for a one-month supply of nasal spray. (Note: Many insurance companies will cover part or most of the cost
of smoking cessation treatments.)
Bupropion (Zyban)
How it works: This medication was originally marketed as an antidepressant under the brand name Wellbutrin.
Doctors noticed that patients taking the drug were unusually successful in their attempts to quit smoking.
Researchers aren't sure why it helps smokers quit.
Safety: Bupropion is generally considered safe, but it has never been thoroughly studied in pregnant women.
Large doses of the drug have been known to cause seizures. (There are no reports of this ever happening to a
pregnant woman taking the medicine to quit smoking.) The drug may not be safe for women who are already at a
high risk of seizures, including those with preeclampsia or a history of preeclampsia. Bupropion passes through
breast milk, so it isn't recommended for nursing mothers.
Success rate: Bupropion can boost smokers' chances of quitting successfully from roughly one in 20 to one in
ten.*
Pros: Bupropion is nicotine-free and easy to take. As a bonus, smokers who quit with the help of bupropion tend
to gain less weight than other quitters.
Cons: Known side effects include insomnia, dry mouth, and nausea. It's unknown what effect, if any, this
medication could have on your developing baby.
Counseling
How it works: Whether you get a few words of encouragement from your doctor, call a quit line, join a group
program, or have a one-on-one session with an expert in smoking cessation, counseling can help keep you
focused and motivated to quit.
Safety: It's safe.
Success rate: It pays to have an expert on your side. Smoking cessation counseling can boost smokers' chances
of quitting successfully from roughly one in 20 to one in ten.* Women who need extra help can combine
counseling with other treatments such as bupropion (Zyban) or nicotine replacement.
Pros: Counseling directly addresses the thoughts and behaviors that make the difference between success and
failure. Besides, talking to someone can help lower your stress, a good thing regardless of your smoking habit.
Cons: Few to none. If a certain forum or counselor doesn't work for you, you can always try a different one.
How it works: Whether you get a few words of encouragement from your doctor, call a quit line, join a group
program, or have a one-on-one session with an expert in smoking cessation, counseling can help keep you
focused and motivated to quit.
Safety: It's safe.
Success rate: It pays to have an expert on your side. Smoking cessation counseling can boost smokers' chances
of quitting successfully from roughly one in 20 to one in ten.* Women who need extra help can combine
counseling with other treatments such as bupropion (Zyban) or nicotine replacement.
Pros: Counseling directly addresses the thoughts and behaviors that make the difference between success and
failure. Besides, talking to someone can help lower your stress, a good thing regardless of your smoking habit.
Cons: Few to none. If a certain forum or counselor doesn't work for you, you can always try a different one.
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