In 2007 the government estimated that 12 percent of pregnant women are nicotine addicted and smoke during pregnancy. That's more than one in ten women. It took me four months before I was able to completely quit smoking, after I found out that I was pregnant and believe me, I was trying.
I have low blood pressure, so my midwifes were not concerned with my stress or blood pressure sky rocketing with nicotine withdrawal. So, I was told to quit, no if, ands or buts. I know a few women who were told to keep smoking (in moderations), so that their blood pressure did not exceed healthy levels and for a few other reasons as well.
My Mom quit smoking with the help of acupuncture, when pregnant with my sister. Just a thought.
To quit, I did the following:
I switched to a brand of cigarettes that are additive free (American Spirit - still owned by J.R. Reynolds (who owns camel cigarettes and a few of the other giants)). They still are addictive, of course, and will put carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine in your body. But, they don't have the additional chemical cocktail that most cigarettes do, including ammonia, formaldehyde, acetone or arsenic. So, I felt a *little* better.
I cut down from a pack a day to 4-5 cigarettes and then 2-3 cigarettes a day and finally 1-2 cigarettes. I spread 'em out over the day. I kept my smoking to four or five drags at a time. Killed the nicotine craving, and I didn't go through a whole cigarette every time. Small steps.
I tried the gum and patch and neither helped. But Commit lozenges did help a little. Finally, after a few months and when I had a cold, I was able to put the pack down completely and for good (well, until my baby had weaned...here I am, smoking again now).
It's a tough one to quit.