Pregnant Mother Smoking

Schmidty · 08-10-2007, 05:15 PM

I saw a VERY pregnant woman outside of a YMCA daycare center puffing away at a cigarette today. I was beyond pissed, and I really wish I had said something, but I didn't.

What would you have done?

oliegirl · 08-10-2007, 05:19 PM

I don't know if I would have said something to her directly, but probably would have not so quietly made a snide comment that I knew she heard...something like "Yeah, someone like you should be having kids". If she chose to respond I'd have gladly told her what I thought.

sabotai · 08-10-2007, 05:21 PM

I saw a picture of a newspaper not too long ago. It was a story of a pregnant woman who was concerned that the sound of the jackhammering going on next to where she lived was going to harm her child. Next to the story was a picture of her, staring off to the distance (one of those set up shots that's supposed to make you sympathetic or something...). In the photo is her holding a cigarette.

EDIT: Googled to try and find it, and it looks like snopes got to it and confirmed it. http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/pregnant.asp

st.cronin · 08-10-2007, 05:23 PM

Is it possible there are people who don't realize that smoking while pregnant is a bad idea?

clintl · 08-10-2007, 05:35 PM

It's possible. But smoking is an addiction. It's also possible she tried and failed at quitting.

Or that she just doesn't care.

AlexB · 08-10-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clintl

It's possible. But smoking is an addiction. It's also possible she tried and failed at quitting.

Or that she just doesn't care.

Genuine question - if she wore patches, would the nicotine from the patches affect the baby?

Toddzilla · 08-10-2007, 05:38 PM

Was it Catherine Zeta-Jones?

sabotai · 08-10-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jari Rantanen's Shorts

Genuine question - if she wore patches, would the nicotine from the patches affect the baby?

If nicotine itself is in any way harmful to the child, yes it would.

AlexB · 08-10-2007, 05:54 PM

In that case, as an ex-smoker for about 18 months, I sympathise to an extent with the woman - giving up is very very tough. Without the patches I know I wouldn't have been able to do it.

OK - baby makes it more of an incentive, but to any non-smoker it is not a case of 'Oh, something has changed in my life, I'd better stop smoking'

Scoobz0202 · 08-10-2007, 05:57 PM

I'm only 20 and I can't fucking quit. I tried, but I'm at that point in my life where my number one priority is drinking. Those that smoke know then how hard it is to quit

sabotai · 08-10-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

I'm only 20 and I can't fucking quit. I tried, but I'm at that point in my life where my number one priority is drinking. Those that smoke know then how hard it is to quit

Pfft, it's easy. I've done it a hundred times.

And FWIW, every woman I know who smokes and have had kids quit while she was pregnant.

st.cronin · 08-10-2007, 06:02 PM

It is hard to quit, but on the other hand at some point it would have been very easy not to start. That tends to temper my sympathy.

lungs · 08-10-2007, 06:08 PM

Who the hell would you be to make a comment directly to her?

The mother of my godson smoked when she was pregnant. It's not like she wanted to, but nicotine isn't an easy addiction to kick.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want any woman I impregnate to smoke but it's none of my god damned business if somebody else does. I hate people that walk around and think there is a need to tell everybody how to live according to their own standards.

AlexB · 08-10-2007, 06:12 PM

Not a case of sympathy, but at the same I'm not about to condemn the person for smoking, or not being able to quit. On the other hand, who knows if she's even tried.

There was a sketch by Alexei Sayle a few years ago that st cronin would have liked - he couldn't stand ex-smokers being boastful about quitting: - 'Why do people harp on about stopping something that was stupid in the first place? No-one gets up and expects respect for saying 'It's been two years since I stopped putting my dick in a blender'

Schmidty · 08-10-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lungs

Who the hell would you be to make a comment directly to her?

The mother of my godson smoked when she was pregnant. It's not like she wanted to, but nicotine isn't an easy addiction to kick.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want any woman I impregnate to smoke but it's none of my god damned business if somebody else does. I hate people that walk around and think there is a need to tell everybody how to live according to their own standards.

So if you see someone beating their child in public, you'd just walk away?

Just curious.

lungs · 08-10-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

So if you see someone beating their child in public, you'd just walk away?

Just curious.

That would be a serious crime. Smoking while pregnant is not.

Schmidty · 08-10-2007, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lungs

That would be a serious crime. Smoking while pregnant is not.

It should be.

But I guess that falls under the whole "woman-body-is-it-life-and-at-what-point" thing.

lungs · 08-10-2007, 06:24 PM

dola

my post may have been a little snide towards you, and I didn't mean it that way. You didn't say anything. I felt you did the right thing. But it's also not wrong that you WANTED to say something.

lungs · 08-10-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

It should be.

But I guess that falls under the whole "woman-body-is-it-life-and-at-what-point" thing.

That's debatable I guess, and yes, that is more than a murky area.

I guess I just feel that I ought to take care of myself before worrying about others. And that would include not allowing a child of mine to be subjected to cigarette smoke. The father of my godson had no problems with the mother smoking so I felt it was none of my business.

Schmidty · 08-10-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lungs

dola

my post may have been a little snide towards you, and I didn't mean it that way. You didn't say anything. I felt you did the right thing. But it's also not wrong that you WANTED to say something.

No, it's cool. I can see both sides of the issue too, although I am strongly in favor of one side over the other.

spleen1015 · 08-10-2007, 06:41 PM

The wife of a friend of mine tried to tell us that her doctor told her not to quit while pregnant. Apparently, the shock your system goes through when you quit was bad for the baby.

I know how hard it is to quit. I haven't had a smoke since 1/17. I tried to quit many times before that. I still haven't surpassed my longest stretch with this attempt. It can be tough, but I think I wouldn't have a problem if I were pregnant.

SteveMax58 · 08-10-2007, 06:55 PM

I sympathize with the woman's smoking addiction, as I'm a smoker too. But you have to freakin quit that crap when you know or suspect you might be pregnant. Easier said than done...but you have to.

Not an easy situation either way. I doubt I'd say something, unless it was somebody I knew really well. But the fact that she was smoking outside a YMCA tells me that she didnt even feel shameful about it. If somebody can see you smoking, and you're pregnant, you really arent trying to quit hard enough.

Icy · 08-10-2007, 07:14 PM

It really pisses me off to see pregnant women smoking or doing anything else proven harmful for the baby. It has always pissed me, but it does way more after we lost our baby a year and a half ago. We did everythig written in the books to have a safe baby, and we ended loosing her, so call it envy or whatever, but it puts me on my nerves to see what other egoist people does with theirs, while we were the ones punished by bad luck.

st.cronin · 08-10-2007, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jari Rantanen's Shorts

Not a case of sympathy, but at the same I'm not about to condemn the person for smoking, or not being able to quit. On the other hand, who knows if she's even tried.

There was a sketch by Alexei Sayle a few years ago that st cronin would have liked - he couldn't stand ex-smokers being boastful about quitting: - 'Why do people harp on about stopping something that was stupid in the first place? No-one gets up and expects respect for saying 'It's been two years since I stopped putting my dick in a blender'

By the way, I am a former dipper AND smoker.

hoopsguy · 08-10-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icy

It really pisses me off to see pregnant women smoking or doing anything else proven harmful for the baby. It has always pissed me, but it does way more after we lost our baby a year and a half ago. We did everythig written in the books to have a safe baby, and we ended loosing her, so call it envy or whatever, but it puts me on my nerves to see what other egoist people does with theirs, while we were the ones punished by bad luck.

Same boat here. We tried for years to have children and weren't able to do so. Along the way our tolerance level for questionable (at best) parenting decisions dropped steadily. It hasn't inched back up at all since we adopted our baby girl.

I don't know if envy is the right word, but it is in that zip code. I always felt angry when people didn't realize how lucky they were to have a chance at parenting when people like us would have given anything to be in their position.

Maple Leafs · 08-10-2007, 07:34 PM

I would have walked away, only because I can't imagine my saying something would change anything. She must know what smoking can do to a baby, and she obviously either doesn't care or just can't stop. Either way, I'm not sure what good it would do for me to get involved, even though the whole sight would probably ruin my day.

Compared to somebody beating a kid, where you can actually stop the harm (at least in the short-term), this is a no-win situation.

nilodor · 08-10-2007, 07:44 PM

I picked walk away because I've heard alot of conflicting information about if it's bad or not for the baby. I have to imagine it is, but I have heard the shock of quitting could be worse (as someone eluded to earlier in this thread). Now if she was drinking in a bar, I probably would have just pissed off a fat chick.

MizzouRah · 08-10-2007, 08:04 PM

So I guess if you saw her at McDonalds eating a Big Mac you would have told her how bad that food is to her body?

Say nothing, it's none of your business what she does with her life.

oykib · 08-10-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

So I guess if you saw her at McDonalds eating a Big Mac you would have told her how bad that food is to her body?

Say nothing, it's none of your business what she does with her life.

I call "bullshit."

Eating Big Macs is not going to be particularly harmful to the baby. She could eat at McDonald's every day and, if she ate moderately healthily othwerwise, the baby would be fine.

If that baby comes out with some birth defect, you can be sure that the rest of society will be subsidizing her foolishness.

You can't force her to give up smoking. But people have let the power of shame disappear from society.

st.cronin · 08-10-2007, 08:24 PM

Even if she wasn't pregnant, society DOES have an interest in the health of its citizens, so its perfectly appropriate for anybody to think less of her for making an unhealthy choice.

Balldog · 08-10-2007, 08:28 PM

My buddy and his wife adopted a baby two or three years ago, when the lady went into labor they called them to the hospital. When they got there the mom was sitting out on the curb smoking while in labor, needless to say they were EXTREMELY pissed! Luckily he is perfectly healthy, he was a little small though.

TroyF · 08-10-2007, 08:30 PM

It's horrible what she's doing, but I don't see any positive to piping up and telling her anything.

1) Her doctor has surely told her the consequences of smoking. She knows it's bad for the kid.

2) She's probably been told 100x by various people, including friends and family members to stop. If they weren't able to make her stop, some stranger at the Quik Mart isn't going to do the trick either.

3) She could very well become confrontational. In this society, you never know what the hell you'll get when you nose into someone elses business.

I find what she's doing repulsive, but I don't exactly see how it's going to end well when you speak up. She's going to continue what she's doing, you are never going to see her or her future kid again and you can't call the police because what she's doing is legal.

At the end of the day, you want to say something because it's going to make YOU feel better. You know it isn't taking care of the problem and you know it won't end well. But by saying something, you can tell yourself "I sure as hell tried"

Donate money for some cancer research or donate some time at a children's hospital. It'll make you feel a hell of a lot better and it actually has a chance of making a difference.

lighthousekeeper · 08-10-2007, 08:42 PM

I'm probably going to come off sounding very stupid here, but what affect does her smoking have on the fetus? I've heard of second-hand smoke, but I didn't know smoking while pregnant was a problem.

Lorena · 08-10-2007, 08:51 PM

If she's "very" pregnant, then there's nothing anyone can do, it's probably already too late. I'd be pretty pissed myself, but I wouldn't say anything.

Lorena · 08-10-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

I'm probably going to come off sounding very stupid here, but what affect does her smoking have on the fetus? I've heard of second-hand smoke, but I didn't know smoking while pregnant was a problem.

My aunt smoked while pregnant and my cousin ended up with asthma. I'm pretty sure it's related but not 100%. Babies tend have low birth weight when mothers smoke.

Marc Vaughan · 08-10-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

It should be.

But I guess that falls under the whole "woman-body-is-it-life-and-at-what-point" thing.

So if you saw someone who was pregnant and obese you'd talk to them about fitness and dieting?
(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4115.php)

I agree someone smoking during a pregnancy is distasteful and if it was a friend I'd probably try and make them see sense (and indeed my wife and I originally gave up smoking last time to 'come alongside' a friend who was pregnant and trying to give up, ironically while our friend went back to smoking (before she delivered, baby was fine incidentally - no problems at all) neither my wife or I have).

If I didn't know the person involved then I'd probably not interfere, I don't know the person or the situation involved and I'm realistic enough to realise that its incredibly unlikely for a comment from a random stranger to cause someone to change their ways - especially when it comes to breaking away from a habit forming drug.

Synovia · 08-10-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Say nothing, it's none of your business what she does with her life.

Well, considering that shes directly driving up our health insurance rates, I'd say its definitely his business.

CamEdwards · 08-10-2007, 09:56 PM

I'm a smoker, and I have no problem with people telling me I shouldn't smoke. I also have no problem with people telling pregnant women they shouldn't smoke.

I might not listen to them, but (in my opinion), there's nothing wrong with folks trying to appeal to someone's sense of shame (or lack thereof) to influence their behavior.

Crim · 08-10-2007, 10:02 PM

My sister smoked throughout her pregnancy. Said she was trying to quit, and I think she did cut back, but I gave her an earful frequently. Healthy baby, so we're all relieved. Specially my sister.

Wierd, though: My mother smoked carrying me (this was in the stone ages, when it really wasn't assumed that smoking was bad for babies, or at least not universally accepted), and I came out fine. Twelve years later, Mom doesn't smoke while carrying my sister, and my sister is diagnosed at a pretty young age w/ mild asthma.

My point is just, there's not always a direct one-to-one correlation between the mother's behavior and the health of the child, and I agree that it is not the business of strangers to counsel people about this stuff.

That said, I think it's disgusting and selfish, and (as I told my sister) being a parent is hard enough work without adding to the chances of your baby having health problems.

Synovia · 08-10-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crim

My point is just, there's not always a direct one-to-one correlation between the mother's behavior and the health of the child, and I agree that it is not the business of strangers to counsel people about this stuff.

A more valid point is that you and your mom do not equal a valid statistical sample, and no assumptions should be made from it.

lighthousekeeper · 08-10-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synovia

A more valid point is that you and your mom do not equal a valid statistical sample, and no assumptions should be made from it.

no, but it is enough of a statistical sample to correctly conclude (as he is) that a pregnant women who smokes will not definitely create health problems for her baby.

Noop · 08-10-2007, 10:27 PM

Its her life.

EagleFan · 08-10-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noop

Its her life.

I guess the unborn child's life doesn't matter...

Synovia · 08-10-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

no, but it is enough of a statistical sample to correctly conclude (as he is) that a pregnant women who smokes will not definitely create health problems for her baby.

No, its not, as not all health problems show up early in life.

Klinglerware · 08-10-2007, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synovia

Well, considering that shes directly driving up our health insurance rates, I'd say its definitely his business.

I believe studies have been done (which of course have been debated) that appear to demonstrate that smokers are a net benefit to health care expenditures, since they tend to die early. Also, isn't it true that smokers' insurance premiums are higher than non-smokers, so they assume (in theory) a slightly higher proportion of the health care costs they incur?

Dutch · 08-11-2007, 02:38 AM

It is tough to quit smoking, but it's not impossible. It's a personal sacrifice. So I have no sympathy with a mother who could not handle a personal sacrifice for her children.

SteveMax58 · 08-11-2007, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klinglerware

Also, isn't it true that smokers' insurance premiums are higher than non-smokers, so they assume (in theory) a slightly higher proportion of the health care costs they incur?

I have no study that shows smokers as being a net benefit to the health insurance industry...but I can say that yes, every month I pay around double the cost of a non-smoker. Perhaps rightfully so.

Edward64 · 08-11-2007, 07:47 AM

Great question, got me thinking.

Although personally distasteful to me, I would not have said anything.

1. Even if there is a correlation, is this correlation significant enough statistically and 'as a whole' for us to judge. Ex. I am quite sure the number of mothers smoking in Europe is significant as it was in the US during the 20th century ... we turned out okay, the world moves on without a blip.

2. If you were in another country and saw this, would you say anything? I bet the answer, for the secularist among us, is probably 'no, because its not ultimately my tax money'. This is a perfectly good answer but for those concerned about the unborn baby, how would you answer this? and why?

3. You can't save the world. Life is full of choices and some play the odds and make suspect choices.

Hammer · 08-11-2007, 08:33 AM

Honestly, if a stranager came up to my partner in this situation with an aggressive attitude they better be ready to fight.

I'm not a smoker and neither is my partner, and yes it is a disgusting habit that can harm the development of a baby. But you think you have some devine right to go up to a pregnant woman and lay the law down to her?

I suggest you do some reading. The stress of giving up/trying to give up can be equally as harmful, if not more harmful to the development of a baby. More importantly, its none of your business and and you should have more respect for people and stop jumping to conclusions! Its a little narrow minded don't you think? The women could be tearing herself up inside feeling the same way as the majority, but fearing the consequences that the stress of giving up could bring. Then some asshole comes and up and scares the life out of her on the street...

MizzouRah · 08-11-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synovia

Well, considering that shes directly driving up our health insurance rates, I'd say its definitely his business.

Forget she's pregnant then, get up this morning and march out into the streets and start telling everyone you see who's smoking how bad it is and how it's driving up medical costs.

While you're at it, go into the fast food restaurants and let them know how bad that food is for them.

I'm not saying it's right to smoke when you're pregnant, but I don't believe it's your right to say anything to a complete stranger either.

View Poll Results: What would you do?
Say something to her	10	11.90%
Leave her alone	47	55.95%
Pimp slap the bitch with a limp trout	27	32.14%
Voters: 84. You may not vote on this poll

08-10-2007, 05:21 PM	#3
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	I saw a picture of a newspaper not too long ago. It was a story of a pregnant woman who was concerned that the sound of the jackhammering going on next to where she lived was going to harm her child. Next to the story was a picture of her, staring off to the distance (one of those set up shots that's supposed to make you sympathetic or something...). In the photo is her holding a cigarette. EDIT: Googled to try and find it, and it looks like snopes got to it and confirmed it. http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/pregnant.asp Last edited by sabotai : 08-10-2007 at 05:23 PM.

08-10-2007, 05:23 PM	#4
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	Is it possible there are people who don't realize that smoking while pregnant is a bad idea? __________________ co-commish: bb-bbcf.net knives out

08-10-2007, 05:54 PM	#9
AlexB Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Newbury, England	In that case, as an ex-smoker for about 18 months, I sympathise to an extent with the woman - giving up is very very tough. Without the patches I know I wouldn't have been able to do it. OK - baby makes it more of an incentive, but to any non-smoker it is not a case of 'Oh, something has changed in my life, I'd better stop smoking' __________________ 'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! Last edited by AlexB : 08-10-2007 at 05:56 PM.

08-10-2007, 06:02 PM	#12
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	It is hard to quit, but on the other hand at some point it would have been very easy not to start. That tends to temper my sympathy. __________________ co-commish: bb-bbcf.net knives out

08-10-2007, 05:35 PM	#5
clintl College Starter Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Davis, CA	It's possible. But smoking is an addiction. It's also possible she tried and failed at quitting. Or that she just doesn't care.

08-10-2007, 05:38 PM	#7
Toddzilla Pro Starter Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Burke, VA	Was it Catherine Zeta-Jones?

08-10-2007, 05:57 PM	#10
Scoobz0202 Pro Rookie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dayton, Ohio	I'm only 20 and I can't fucking quit. I tried, but I'm at that point in my life where my number one priority is drinking. Those that smoke know then how hard it is to quit

08-10-2007, 06:08 PM	#13
lungs Pro Rookie Join Date: May 2002 Location: Prairie du Sac, WI	Who the hell would you be to make a comment directly to her? The mother of my godson smoked when she was pregnant. It's not like she wanted to, but nicotine isn't an easy addiction to kick. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want any woman I impregnate to smoke but it's none of my god damned business if somebody else does. I hate people that walk around and think there is a need to tell everybody how to live according to their own standards.

08-10-2007, 06:12 PM	#14
AlexB Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Newbury, England	Not a case of sympathy, but at the same I'm not about to condemn the person for smoking, or not being able to quit. On the other hand, who knows if she's even tried. There was a sketch by Alexei Sayle a few years ago that st cronin would have liked - he couldn't stand ex-smokers being boastful about quitting: - 'Why do people harp on about stopping something that was stupid in the first place? No-one gets up and expects respect for saying 'It's been two years since I stopped putting my dick in a blender' __________________ 'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports!

08-10-2007, 06:24 PM	#18
lungs Pro Rookie Join Date: May 2002 Location: Prairie du Sac, WI	dola my post may have been a little snide towards you, and I didn't mean it that way. You didn't say anything. I felt you did the right thing. But it's also not wrong that you WANTED to say something.

08-10-2007, 06:41 PM	#21
spleen1015 Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2003	The wife of a friend of mine tried to tell us that her doctor told her not to quit while pregnant. Apparently, the shock your system goes through when you quit was bad for the baby. I know how hard it is to quit. I haven't had a smoke since 1/17. I tried to quit many times before that. I still haven't surpassed my longest stretch with this attempt. It can be tough, but I think I wouldn't have a problem if I were pregnant.

08-10-2007, 06:55 PM	#22
SteveMax58 College Starter Join Date: Dec 2006	I sympathize with the woman's smoking addiction, as I'm a smoker too. But you have to freakin quit that crap when you know or suspect you might be pregnant. Easier said than done...but you have to. Not an easy situation either way. I doubt I'd say something, unless it was somebody I knew really well. But the fact that she was smoking outside a YMCA tells me that she didnt even feel shameful about it. If somebody can see you smoking, and you're pregnant, you really arent trying to quit hard enough. Last edited by SteveMax58 : 08-10-2007 at 06:56 PM.

08-10-2007, 07:14 PM	#23
Icy Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toledo - Spain	It really pisses me off to see pregnant women smoking or doing anything else proven harmful for the baby. It has always pissed me, but it does way more after we lost our baby a year and a half ago. We did everythig written in the books to have a safe baby, and we ended loosing her, so call it envy or whatever, but it puts me on my nerves to see what other egoist people does with theirs, while we were the ones punished by bad luck. __________________

08-10-2007, 07:34 PM	#26
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	I would have walked away, only because I can't imagine my saying something would change anything. She must know what smoking can do to a baby, and she obviously either doesn't care or just can't stop. Either way, I'm not sure what good it would do for me to get involved, even though the whole sight would probably ruin my day. Compared to somebody beating a kid, where you can actually stop the harm (at least in the short-term), this is a no-win situation. __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

08-10-2007, 07:44 PM	#27
nilodor College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: calgary, AB	I picked walk away because I've heard alot of conflicting information about if it's bad or not for the baby. I have to imagine it is, but I have heard the shock of quitting could be worse (as someone eluded to earlier in this thread). Now if she was drinking in a bar, I probably would have just pissed off a fat chick.

08-10-2007, 08:04 PM	#28
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Troy, Mo	So I guess if you saw her at McDonalds eating a Big Mac you would have told her how bad that food is to her body? Say nothing, it's none of your business what she does with her life.

08-10-2007, 08:24 PM	#30
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	Even if she wasn't pregnant, society DOES have an interest in the health of its citizens, so its perfectly appropriate for anybody to think less of her for making an unhealthy choice. __________________ co-commish: bb-bbcf.net knives out

08-10-2007, 08:28 PM	#31
Balldog Pro Rookie Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Macomb, MI	My buddy and his wife adopted a baby two or three years ago, when the lady went into labor they called them to the hospital. When they got there the mom was sitting out on the curb smoking while in labor, needless to say they were EXTREMELY pissed! Luckily he is perfectly healthy, he was a little small though.

08-10-2007, 08:30 PM	#32
TroyF Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000	It's horrible what she's doing, but I don't see any positive to piping up and telling her anything. 1) Her doctor has surely told her the consequences of smoking. She knows it's bad for the kid. 2) She's probably been told 100x by various people, including friends and family members to stop. If they weren't able to make her stop, some stranger at the Quik Mart isn't going to do the trick either. 3) She could very well become confrontational. In this society, you never know what the hell you'll get when you nose into someone elses business. I find what she's doing repulsive, but I don't exactly see how it's going to end well when you speak up. She's going to continue what she's doing, you are never going to see her or her future kid again and you can't call the police because what she's doing is legal. At the end of the day, you want to say something because it's going to make YOU feel better. You know it isn't taking care of the problem and you know it won't end well. But by saying something, you can tell yourself "I sure as hell tried" Donate money for some cancer research or donate some time at a children's hospital. It'll make you feel a hell of a lot better and it actually has a chance of making a difference.

08-10-2007, 08:42 PM	#33
lighthousekeeper College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	I'm probably going to come off sounding very stupid here, but what affect does her smoking have on the fetus? I've heard of second-hand smoke, but I didn't know smoking while pregnant was a problem. __________________ ...

08-10-2007, 08:51 PM	#34
Lorena Unregistered Join Date: May 2004	If she's "very" pregnant, then there's nothing anyone can do, it's probably already too late. I'd be pretty pissed myself, but I wouldn't say anything.

08-10-2007, 09:56 PM	#38
CamEdwards Stadium Announcer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burke, VA	I'm a smoker, and I have no problem with people telling me I shouldn't smoke. I also have no problem with people telling pregnant women they shouldn't smoke. I might not listen to them, but (in my opinion), there's nothing wrong with folks trying to appeal to someone's sense of shame (or lack thereof) to influence their behavior. __________________ I don't want the world. I just want your half.

08-10-2007, 10:27 PM	#42
Noop Bonafide Seminole Fan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Florida	Its her life. __________________ Living in an Oligarchy.

08-11-2007, 02:38 AM	#46
Dutch "Dutch" Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Tampa, FL	It is tough to quit smoking, but it's not impossible. It's a personal sacrifice. So I have no sympathy with a mother who could not handle a personal sacrifice for her children.

08-11-2007, 07:47 AM	#48
Edward64 General Manager Join Date: Oct 2005	Great question, got me thinking. Although personally distasteful to me, I would not have said anything. 1. Even if there is a correlation, is this correlation significant enough statistically and 'as a whole' for us to judge. Ex. I am quite sure the number of mothers smoking in Europe is significant as it was in the US during the 20th century ... we turned out okay, the world moves on without a blip. 2. If you were in another country and saw this, would you say anything? I bet the answer, for the secularist among us, is probably 'no, because its not ultimately my tax money'. This is a perfectly good answer but for those concerned about the unborn baby, how would you answer this? and why? 3. You can't save the world. Life is full of choices and some play the odds and make suspect choices.

08-11-2007, 08:33 AM	#49
Hammer College Prospect Join Date: Sep 2005	Honestly, if a stranager came up to my partner in this situation with an aggressive attitude they better be ready to fight. I'm not a smoker and neither is my partner, and yes it is a disgusting habit that can harm the development of a baby. But you think you have some devine right to go up to a pregnant woman and lay the law down to her? I suggest you do some reading. The stress of giving up/trying to give up can be equally as harmful, if not more harmful to the development of a baby. More importantly, its none of your business and and you should have more respect for people and stop jumping to conclusions! Its a little narrow minded don't you think? The women could be tearing herself up inside feeling the same way as the majority, but fearing the consequences that the stress of giving up could bring. Then some asshole comes and up and scares the life out of her on the street...

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