I posted a lengthier essay on the topic of pregnant women and smoking on my blog, but I am curious about the opinions of ToledoTalk-ers on the subject.
Thanks for any comments that you leave, pro, con, or otherwise.
Pregnant Women and Smoking
Comments ... #
When I worked at HCR ManorCare, there was a girl in the accounting department who would take a dozen smoke breaks a day. Even when she was 7 months pregnant, she'd be out there puffing away. She was the talk of the company...which says a lot considering how many total employees there are at the corporate office. (If she wasn't concerned about her baby's health, she might have at least taken into consideration the damage to her professional reputation.)
Her baby was born at least 6 weeks prematurely, not surprisingly. And the kicker was that she actually had the gall to complain at work all the time about her child's health...her kid was sick all the time - excessive respiratory and ear infections, etc. (Don't know what happened to the child's health since then, as I stopped working there. The kid would be about 5 or 6 now.)
Yet despite all the griping she did about her kid's assorted illnesses, she apparently never even considered the idea that she may have been responsible by being a chain smoker all throughout her pregnancy and her child's infancy. How sad.
Mom smoked the whole time she was pregnant with me and my brother, Both of us were full term and both very healthy babies and nothing more than your normal cold every once in a blue moon. I think that was the norm back then cause i've seen pictures of all my aunts smoking while they were pregnant also
posted by camaroman2125 on Oct 16, 2007 at 09:06:16 pm #
I would imagine people ate more home cooked food back when such things were the norm...that is back when food and cigarettes weren't laced with additives and people only smoked to keep up with the Joneses;)
SSRI's are the chemical cocktails I'd worry about given their popularity.
Somewhat (ir)relevant:
http://www.cracked.com/article_15160_so-you-knocked-her-up-child-rearing-guide.html
What could possibly be said about the subject other than they are stupid and selfish?
Mom2 – what department did you work in at HCR? I know tons of people there.
I smoked during both my pregnancys. Its not like a banner I wave proudly but both my children were born full term one weighed 7 lbs 15 oz and the other was 8 lbs 14 oz. One was born in 1986 the other in 2000, neither one was sicker then normal, neither had more then a couple of ear infections.
I'm not advocating smoking while pregnant but I don't think we should assume right off the start that smoking is the cause all premie/low birth weight/sick kids.
I don't think its fair to call smokers stupid or selfish. It is an addiction and it is one of the hardest addictions to quit.
For the record, I quit smoking five years ago and I couldn't have done it without the nicotene gum.
With all the drama about murdering unborn babies via abortion, it's pretty funny to see anyone even remotely defend that soon to be "mother".
posted by jhostetler on Oct 17, 2007 at 10:36:50 am #
Well, I don't know why anyone would start rehashing this shit, other than to see the hatred and arguments flare up again0but I'll just say it doesn't hurt the kid. All three of my Daughters smoked during pregnancy (one's a nurse) with no ill effects whatsoever, as was the case with the WW2 generation, greatest one the world will ever know. There was never a problem until the smoker-haters said there was.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This happened 2-3 years ago-true story-I remember seeing the rep on Hannity & Colmes .
find it.
Here it is again for those that might have missed itNorth Dakota
January 17 - Law To Ban Tobacco Sales Introduced - With the frenzy to grind up freedom and throw it in the trash can of history, a refreshing story comes from the northern plains. A North Dakota legislator introduced a law that makes it a crime to sell or smoke tobacco. Sellers would face up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine, while casual smokers or smokeless tobacco users could go to jail for 30 days and be fined $1,000."The education approach is obviously not working in North Dakota," said Rep. Michael Grosz, R-Grand Forks. "Should we not prohibit the sale and use of tobacco just because it may be difficult to enforce, and let nearly 1,000 North Dakotans die every year?"
Indeed. There really isn't any rational argument against his bill. Education truly isn't working since the percentage of smokers hasn't declined one iota in over a decade. A decade that has seen billions spent on anti-tobacco education. Anti-tobacco tells us that smoking is a most deadly practice, leading to an inevitable, premature and horribly painful death. All of society's ills are caused by smoking so why is it allowed to persist? Who can argue against this bill? Why anti-tobacco of course!
At a hearing where the House Finance and Taxation Committee voted 9 to 4 in favor of tobacco prohibition, a line up of anti-tobacco special interest groups denounced the bill in no uncertain terms. Given the chance to support their goal of a smoke-free society The American Lung Association, American Heart Association, North Dakota Medical Association and North Dakota Public Health Association all spoke out against the ban on Tuesday, much to the dismay of some lawmakers on the committee.
Even in written form their panic was palatable. How can this be? To oppose this bill is the only proof anyone needs that all the talk about health and reducing death rates is a complete lie. The anti-smokers are frantic that the cash flow they receive from cigarettes may come to an end. Their greed can their only motive since, if what they have been preaching for years is true, allowing cigarettes to be legal means that those who permit it have blood on their hands. ;^D
As of yet there is no indication as to whether the legislation is actually a tongue in cheek commentary on hysteria but it sure outed the "health" organizations as a bunch of money-made hypocrites
I think we should just rename cigarettes:
nicotine pacifiers
Quoting Reinhart from a totally unrelated thread, "This level of ignorance is unforgivable."
posted by jhostetler on Oct 18, 2007 at 02:56:12 am #
Rabid smoker hating? GTFO. I smoke.
This is about rabid-dislike of people smoking (or using drugs, or drinking) when pregnant. It's 100% ignorant. To say otherwise is akin to claiming the world is flat.
posted by jhostetler on Oct 19, 2007 at 12:29:37 pm #
Bullshit. I agree you shouldn't get drunk a lot or drink heavily, but smoking does not hurt. If it did, all of us that were born in the 40s wouldn't be here. Once again, there was never a problem until society SAID there was. All my kids and grandkids turned out fine, and everyone I've known in my entire life that smoked while expecting had nary a problem. I mean, it only went on for what? A century?
Wow. Well carry on with your bad self... and good luck.
posted by jhostetler on Oct 20, 2007 at 01:33:07 am #
I seriously doubt I'll ever have to worry about getting pregnant. ;^D
This is actually great hope for the return of natural selection... thank heavens!
posted by jhostetler on Oct 20, 2007 at 10:26:08 am #
Fuck off, you arrogant bastard. You have bought into the guilt trip many smokers are on, due to the 20-odd years of media brainwashing ("It must be true, why I saw it on the news")
I, on the other hand, ignore the billions of your donation dollars that 'tax-free 'charitable'organizations'have used to demonize smokers. You now have the thread-and your clever witticisms-to yourself. I don't know why I even clicked onto this thread in the first place-you all have your minds firmly made up, and anyone who says otherwise is obviously inferior life form material, so why bother? There is no discussion any more about anything . Thanks to the original thread starter for once again accomplishing nothing but fanning the flames of hatred and discord, as I knew it would deteriorate into. Ta Ta. I've more important things to do than trade insults all day. Piss into the wind, the thread is all yours.
LMAO! If ANYONE thinks its alright to smoke - let alone smoke being preggers - WOW! Can't even respond.
I read your essay, and have to admit it could be my thoughts. I am a product of this time, but I can remember back to a beloved aunt smoking up a storm while eight months pregnant (this was about 1960). We may be right to eschew this product, but I believe each generation will have it's own "bugaboos". Right now, trans-fats seem to be taking a hit. I wonder if they'll come up with warning labels for "smoothies".
posted by oldsendbrdy on Oct 16, 2007 at 08:05:52 pm #