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Smoking cessation - Management
What practical advice can I give to a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding to help her stop smoking?
Advise women who want to stop smoking to:
- Prepare mentally to stop by:
- Making a list of reasons why they want to stop.
- Explaining that most of the pleasure of smoking comes from the relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
- Expecting stopping to be difficult but progressively easier after the third or fourth day.
- Involving family and friends by telling people about their intention to stop and, if possible, stopping with someone else.
- Set a date to stop smoking when they feel well and under the least amount of stress possible. Advise people to stop immediately if they are motivated to do so.
- Avoid relapses by:
- Using nicotine replacement therapy to relieve the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
- Avoiding situations associated with smoking until they can comfortably resist the impulse to smoke.
- Replacing smoking with other activities, such as chewing gum, drinking water or tea, or taking glucose tablets relieve nicotine cravings.
- Setting targets for remaining smoke free and rewarding themselves for reaching these targets.
- Try again if they relapse. Most people who successfully stop smoking long term need several attempts before they finally stop completely.
In depth
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