[Muff Muff]

I just want opinions..if I started smoking again, not in the house, or around my baby, would that make me a bad mother..?
I just...feel guilty, but I would like to start again.

[Demonskid]

No it wouldn't make you a bad mother. As long as it's not near the baby it's fine. *huggles muffy*

[Muff Muff]

I wouldn't ever. I never even did around my sisters..but this is my baby now. XD SO I feel guilty.

[Pocket]

I agree.. it wouldn't make you a bad mom..

[Muff Muff]

Thanks guys.. I just don't want her to hate me. lol

[Demonskid]

She wont xD My mom smokes, I have asthma, I don't hate her even when I have an asthma attack due to her smoking :3

[Muff Muff]

o.o Well she doesn't have asthma. And I'ma smoke outside while she's inside anyways. Does it still bother you if she doesn't smoke around you?

[Ishu]

NO, it would not make you a bad mother.

Honestly, I don't think you should. It costs a LOT of money whether you are a light smoker or 3 packs a day kind of smoker. You should save that money for something you REALLY want or even for your child for when she needs school supplies, new clothes, food, ect.

I'm not bashing on smoking at all because, shit, I smoke too. I'd really like to quit but I can't in my environment. It doesn't help that my husband used to smoke a carton a day (before we got together). His mom smokes and so does her husband- both of whom we are living with. We are quitting once we move out so we can have money and so it won't conflict with my BAZILLION health problems.

If you can quit and stay off of it, that is definitely the best course of action.

[Funkduder]

As a son I think smoking has no, if not little, relation to your quality as a mom. I wouldn't see my mom any differently if she did. That being said, I'm generally against smoking. :P

[Tiva]

It wouldn't make you a bad mother but do realize that the smoke would still stick to your clothes, so you couldn't hold her right after smoking because you would need your clothes to air out. My sister has a 7th month old and it is what got her and her husband to stop smoking because Jackie isn't fond of the smoke smell even after they air out.
Also be aware of where your ventilation system is because it could draw the smoke back into your home and make her sick. It could in general compromise her health over all, asthma, SIDS, ear infections, and lower respiratory illnesses. That is just second hand smoke effects.
There was a study done back in 07 on how mothers who smoked and breastfed their children shortened their child's over all sleeping time. So another factor to add into your choice.

Over all I would not smoke once I had a child, at least until they were 15 years old (Fully mature in most areas of the body) but it is your choice just realize that they will love you no matter what but if they develop an illness because of your smoking they may resent your smoking latter on in life.

[Muff Muff]

Well I used to smoke before I got pregnant, we both did. She is 5 months now and doesn't breast feed anymore. I defiantly wash my hands before handling her as well.
As far as cost goes, we're fine with money and she's even got her own savings started and we still are adding to it. I haven't smoked since before I got pregnant, and to be honest I think it's what killed me and my man's relationship. We're both so stressed we can barely tolerate each other. lol And I think smoking would be better than me becoming an alcoholic like my father. lol
I am aware of SIDs and all of that, trust me. lol It scares the poop out of me. We stand outside where we can see her with the doors and windows shut and keep it on the other side of us, as well as keeping it away from us when we're not inhaling. I just feel so guilty I don't want her to hate me. That is my biggest fear, oddly enough. But we both are addicts, and I know he wanted to start up too.
Thank you all for the information. If she starts acting any different I know I'm going to quit and try to figure out what to do to help stress levels, but I don't think there is anything we can do for that. :c

[Ishu]

Exercising can do some good. It helps relieve stress and you both can get into shape. ^^

[Kali_Namir]

One thing you can do that is a little healthier for both her and you guys. The electronic cigarettes. I think they end up being more expensive, but there is no actual smoke, it's water vapor, and there is also no tar, so it ends up being better for all of you in the long run.

[Muff Muff]

Yeah..he won't do that. lmao He's a very lazy man, and I tried myself. It's not something I find relaxing or stress relieving.

[Fey]

Will it make you a bad mother? no
Will it make you a bad role model for your child? Depends on how you view it.
Will it make you, in the long run, not able to be around for as much of her life and her children's lives? Yes, no question.

It's not about the 'right or wrong' it's about a very simple fact. Smoking will kill you. And it will do so in a way that will be painful for you and your loved ones. You may be, and probably are, an amazing mother, but if you smoke you will be courting a number of diseases that will decrease your life expectancy. And as a mother you will be leaving that to your daughter; the fear of loosing you, the pain of watching you suffer, and the eventual loss of her parent to something that can be terrible.

Am I exaggerating? Yeah, not everyone gets lung cancer, or emphysema, or even a bad smokers cough. But enough people do that it's a concern to think about. What you do now isn't just a about the now, it's about the then too.

Am I biased because I dislike smoking? Yes. Do I condemn those that do? No. But think about this; even if you don't contract anything from smoking you're teaching your child this is a fine habit to have. And it may kill THEM. As a parent is that what you want? To know that something you did caused the death of your child?

[Quiet Man Cometh]

You know I've never thought about it? My dad smoked, not sure how often when I was little. It bugs me now that I'm aware of what it does but that's more because I don't like cigarettes in general, and I can always move myself somewhere else. I think my dad and step mom are quitting now, because of my step-sister's new kid.

Even though I know it's considred bad to expose a child to cigarette smoke, it never occured to me to gripe at my dad about it. I'm an 80's kid though, and not sure what the attitude was towards smoking at the time.

I know that if I spend a lot of time around smokers (more than a few days) I will develop a phelgmy cough, but that will leave once I leave the environment and to my knowledge I have no lung damage from it.

I would suggest though, that maybe you have a "smoker's jacket" that you can wear over your clothes when you smoke, so that you can take it off and have your normal clothes not smelling so much when you go back inside. Smoke really clings! I never notice how much it sticks to my own clothes until I get back down here in no-smoking land and open my suitcase.