5 Ways to Quit Smoking So You Can Conceive

As we all know, smoking can adversely affect your ability to get pregnant, stay pregnant, and deliver a healthy infant. Smoking can cause a number of complications for what would be an otherwise healthy pregnancy. On the same token, we also know that it is extremely difficult to quit smoking. In fact, some experts say that smoking is even more addicting than heroin. So what can you do to quit? We’ve listed our top five tips for kicking the habit.

1. Make a Plan – Only you know your body and its strengths and weaknesses. So make a plan and write it down. Will you quit cold turkey? Or will you need to map out a gradual reduction in your smoking habits? Is your smoking triggered by certain things like stress or being around other smokers? Take a long hard look at your smoking habits and make a plan that best works for you. Make sure you write the plan down and post it somewhere you’ll see if often (like on the refrigerator) so that you are able to hold yourself accountable and can frequently remind yourself of your goals.




2. Get the Help You Need – Tell family members, friends, and co-workers of your plans to quit. These people will not only be able to cheer you on, but they can also hold you accountable. Stay away from other smokers; they’ll just bring you down. Do, however, get advice from family or friends who are ex-smokers. If your spouse also smokes, team up and try quitting together. There is strength in numbers!




3. Talk to your Doctor – Your doctor is a great resource – he or she may be able to recommend tips specific to your quitting needs. They can offer you more than just advice too. Your doctor may prescribe or recommend a nicotine patch or gum, if you have not already tried these options. They may also prescribe medication to ease your quitting. You can also seek one on one counseling by calling 800-QUIT-NOW.




4. Don’t Beat Yourself Up – Take it one day at a time, or even one hour at a time if you have to. If you slip up, don’t get discouraged, get back on track! Give yourself small goals. For example, if you can go smoke-free for a week, treat yourself to a nice dinner with your spouse. If you make it smoke free for a month, get a massage at the local spa.




5. Don’t Go Overboard – You need to quit smoking, but do you also want to lose a few pounds before you conceive? You want to quit smoking, but do you have a big stressful presentation coming up at work? Sounds pretty overwhelming to us! Take on one task at a time. Don’t try to do all at once, or you’ll fail at everything. Get through that big presentation, then start on your quit smoking campaign. Timing is everything when it comes time to quit smoking. If you are stressed out with the presentation, you’ll be more likely to slip up with your quitting efforts. A good tip is to try quit smoking first, and then move on to your next goal of losing a few pounds. The big idea? Take on one big goal at a time.




We hope these tips were helpful. While quitting smoking is not a surefire way to conceive if you’re having problems, it will certainly help increase your odds and help you take the necessary steps towards a healthy pregnancy. If you have any other tips that have worked for you, let us know!