A Deadline to Quit Smoking?by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger 30 Mar 2009 05:58 AM By now all pregnant women should know smoking is terrible for both mom and baby. If you smoke, you may have tried to quit without success. Some women mistakenly believe they need to quit in the first trimester for the baby to benefit. If they aren't able to quit in early pregnancy, many give up trying. There is now evidence to suggest the window for reaping the benefits of quitting smoking is until the fifteenth week of pregnancy. This information comes from a study published in the British Medical Journal. The study conducted at the University of Auckland found women who quit smoking by fifteen weeks pregnant lowered their risk of preterm birth to the same level as non smokers. The group of women who continued to smoke had triple the risk of delivering prematurely. Similar results were noted in relation to birth weight. Babies born to mothers who quit smoking by the fifteenth week of pregnancy went on to deliver babies of normal birth weight. Women who continued to smoke had a higher incidence of low birth weight. This new information should help offer motivation to women who have had difficulty in trying to quit in the past. Regardless of the methods used to quit, most ex smokers will tell you success comes down to having the right motivation and will to quit. A smoker can fail 20 times, find the right motivation and succeed. Seek help in your quest to quit smoking. It is unknown how many women lie to their doctors about smoking and other lifestyle habits, but it does happen. It's tempting to leave out information about smoking habits or lie about quitting for fear of the provider's opinion, but don't do it. Doctors can help with smoking cessation and offer advice on medicines that can help you quit, so be honest with your health care provider. You can get the help and support you need to give your baby a healthy start in life and a healthier mother. Learn more about Pattie Hughes  Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. Relevantpregnancy tags User Comments gmcof05 (116) 30 Mar 2009 10:31 AMWhen a woman become pregnant with child, they want be able to all of a suddely to stop smoking because they cant and dont have the power to stop smoking. yes I a doctor and a counseler can give them advice but they cant help them stop smoking forever, because they are addicted to the smoking. a pregnant woman might can stop smoking for several months, but then she would go back to smoking. question: If a pregnant mom smoke during all 9 months, how would that affect the infant? Discuss this article
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