A better understanding of the effects of smoking can help you quit.

Discovering you're pregnant is a powerful motivator for many women who smoke, leading them to quit. However, for some, it remains difficult; in France, 30% of women are still dependent on tobacco by their due date. This is partly because the dangers of tobacco are not yet fully understood...

The placenta cannot filter all substances:

During pregnancy, the baby obtains oxygen from the mother's blood. Smoking fills the blood with harmful substances. Because the placental barrier cannot completely filter these substances, they can pass through the umbilical cord into the fetus. Furthermore, tobacco causes blood vessels to constrict, further restricting the baby's oxygen supply.

Multiple consequences:

It is now well-established that smoking causes intrauterine growth retardation, resulting in low birth weight, small stature, small head circumference, and delayed lung development. Babies born to smokers are more likely to experience breathing problems and have a three times higher risk of premature birth. Furthermore, smoking increases the risk of birth defects, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy. However, simply understanding the dangers of smoking is not enough; appropriate methods are usually needed to help people quit.

Finding the right way to quit smoking is crucial.

Each person's nicotine addiction is a personal issue (psychological, physiological, etc.), therefore, methods to help quit smoking must also be tailored to the individual. Nothing is more frustrating than successfully quitting only to relapse...

Consulting experts:

Many maternity clinics today can help develop appropriate strategies for each case, including cognitive therapy.

This is the best solution for women who know they can't quit smoking by willpower alone.

Alternatives:

Patches, chewing gum, and other products can be used by pregnant women to reduce nicotine addiction and risks, and can be prescribed by a doctor or nicotine addiction specialist.

Adjunctive therapy:

Acupuncture, auricular therapy, and hypnosis can both promote aversion to tobacco and calm emotions. As for stress-relieving therapies, they can establish psychological mechanisms to reduce nicotine cravings.

Multiple methods were used to ensure no relapse. It worked!

Thinking that smoking five fewer cigarettes a day is acceptable is self-deception: carbon monoxide (the main toxin) is still present. Furthermore, when smokers reduce their cigarette consumption, heavy smokers tend to smoke more vigorously, increasing the harmful effects of combustion products (tar and carbon monoxide).

It's best to quit smoking completely and choose supportive methods to help you cope with strong nicotine cravings:

Imitation habits:

Pick up a pen and put it to your mouth; simply put, replace the habit of smoking with other actions, especially when talking on the phone.

Find a way to distract yourself:

Keep your hands busy, like with skincare... it's both enjoyable and practical.

Maintain a fresh feeling:

Brushing your teeth multiple times a day creates a refreshing feeling that makes the urge to smoke unpleasant.

Avoid temptation:

Avoid coffee after lunch, as it automatically evokes the traditional association with "smoking".

Swallow something:

Ideally, drink a large glass of water to help combat cravings and stay hydrated. Avoid chewing gum and candy, even sugar-free ones. Most contain fast-acting sugars that will make you crave more; as for sugar-free versions, they contain polyols, which are difficult for some people to digest and can cause fermentation, gas, and bloating.

Enjoy a relaxing moment:

Try diaphragmatic breathing exercises to reduce tension, or engage in positive visualization. If the cravings are too strong, don't hesitate to seek professional help again to find the best way to quit smoking for you.

What about e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes have been a real market success, but they have also sparked considerable controversy. Studies show that these products contain lower levels of toxic substances than traditional tobacco, but no global research has yet confirmed their long-term safety. Furthermore, e-liquids contain potentially toxic chemicals, including carcinogenic molecules (acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde).

Although it does not contain tar or carbon monoxide and appears to be less toxic than "real cigarettes," it cannot be considered a product to help people quit smoking.