It's not just my life anymore...

[nsd_user663_62237]

This marks a personal record for me, a real victory!

Today is day 9 without smoking... In about three hours, I'll be onto day 10. In 14 years of smoking, I've never gone this long without a cigarette.

I found out recently that I am pregnant. I had attempted to quit before I found out with no success. Now that I know that I'm sharing my body, my lungs and my oxygen with an innocent little developing baby, I KNOW I can't fail.

The changing hormones and stress of the changes have made it a psychological battleground.... but I won't lie, the morning sickness is really helping to curb my cravings. I'm optimistic and can be grateful to feel sick. I still crave pretty often, especially at my "trigger times." After I eat, in the car, during work breaks and when I'm around others that smoke. The good news in all this is that it's starting to smell worse and worse. My teeth and my skin are getting brighter. My brain is relearning how to create it's own serotonin without needing a nic fix.

I'm proud today. I'm determined and feel stronger than ever. I want my baby to grow healthy in my belly... and when I give birth, I want to set a good example for him or her. I want to live a long life and be there for all of it.

[nsd_user663_18145]

Wow you certainly do have the biggest reason to quit growing inside you and as he or she grows and makes there presence felt that reason will get stronger and stronger

come on here as much as you need hun for support and encouragement

onwards and upwards is the only way to go

[nsd_user663_60964]

Wonderful! Huge congratulations on both counts.

So glad you've come out of the closet as it were and posted. It will be lovely to have another forum baby to look forward to!

[nsd_user663_2681]

Congratulations to you on your pregnancy and quitting, totally envious my reason for keep trying to quit is to help in getting pregnant so you are a lucky lady xxx

[nsd_user663_62237]

Just what I needed!

Thank you so much for the support!

I was taken back with a crave last night, just after I posted here. I checked into my bank account and realized that someone had made a fraudulent charge... a LARGE one. I hadn't anticipated how something like that could make me want a cigarette so intensely. I wanted one BAD! Like rocking back and forth, fists gripped and jaw tight for a slow-motion minute there. Mental withdrawal so heavy that it overcame me physically.

In the past, my coping mechanism would have immediately been to smoke. It was perhaps the strongest crave that I've experienced since my quit date! I had to literally say out loud to myself several times, "It's ok, relax, relax, relax! I can fix this with the bank. No problem. No big deal. Everything is still ok. I'm ok."

Instead, I sat down with a cup of tea & "white-knuckle" waited it out... I just waited for what seemed like forever. This morning, I woke up with insomnia/anxiety over the situation.

Imagine my surprise to log on and see all the wonderful responses to my post. What a relief to have support! You all are wonderful! I've waited out the severity of the crave and now I'm going to start my day. Another battle won! Day ten & I'm feeling positive!

[nsd_user663_62211]

Hey Shan

Congrats on the mini me!! How fabulous and so wonderful that you are managing to quit giving your little one the best possible start

Check you out, managing the stress without smoking, that's amazing! It's easy to forget that a little white stick can't possibly make a situation any better, and that in fact it mostly makes things worse!

Look forward to reading about your journey

x