So why does no one listen?
This includes myself, of course, I am no hypocrite.
Being a smoker and hating the taste, smell and effects I still ignore the warning signs and death threats (from mother dearest).
It’s definitely nothing to be proud of and most assuredly not something you’d shout to the world (or just Springs), but I can say with absolute truth that I am overly conscious of non-smokers, pregnant women and children when the ‘stick of death’ is lit.
I firmly believe that you respect another life and just because you decide to pollute and poison your own body, it doesn’t mean those around you need to suffer the inhalation of second hand smoke.
This, to me, had I been a non-smoker, would be offensive.
It’s a shame that that kind of mindset isn’t more common among smokers.
The worst thing for me to witness is a pregnant woman smoking.
Many mothers have told me that they smoked through their entire pregnancy and there is nothing wrong with the child.
Other mothers have told me that they smoked and their child was smaller than normal at birth, or they have asthma.
Most mothers quit smoking when they found out they were pregnant. Salute.
I have also heard a pregnant woman say that if they quit smoking ‘cold turkey’ when they find out about the pregnancy, it can be harmful to the baby…
Rubbish.
Whoever believes this truth, please consult your doctor or maybe a psychologist.
I have yet to see proof or be told differently.
Then I have also heard people telling me, “but this person smoked through her pregnancy and the baby is fine”.
Oh… I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had a PhD in trivial matters such as human evolution.
It doesn’t mean that if person A’s child was born strong and healthy, person B’s will too.
There are so many things that can go wrong when smoking during pregnancy, I can’t say exactly what all the dangers are because I don’t pretend to be a doctor.
I drive through Springs’ streets and so often see a cigarette in the hands of a woman with an obvious baby bump and it truly is sad.
You don’t know what you are doing until, most likely, the child is born and he or she may have side-effects of your choices that may have life-long consequences for him or her.
Is it really worth it?
You are harming that unborn child in some way or another, however small it may be, it can have dire consequences.
Yes, many are born without side-effects and are as healthy as a horse, but why would you even risk it?
A bitter pill for me to swallow is that my best and dearest friend is currently in her first trimester… and is still smoking.
She knows my thoughts on the matter and I have discussed it with her as well, but the urge to smoke is too strong and she is convinced nothing will go wrong.
I pray to God that she is right, because I can’t change her mind.
So many people have quit smoking when the doctor tells them their health is deteriorating drastically and if they don’t quit, they will die… that it’s just a matter of time.
Why can we quit immediately to save our own life, but not that of an innocent child?
As a parent, you would want the best and nothing but the best or your child, so why not start with that?
