Comments on: On Pregnancy and Smoking

By: Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive » Judgment is more pernicious than you think.

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:17:14 +0000

[...] On pregnancy and smoking. [...]

By: olivia

olivia — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:22:00 +0000

“I don’t know the science on smoking and drinking during pregnancy, but I do know that a whole generation of women (including my grandmother) smoked throughout their pregnancies and as far as I know that generation of babies did not have more problems than any other generation.”

Really? Hmm thats interesting because it seems to me this day in age a huge number of people are dying because of unexplained cancers.

Smoking during pregnancy is selfish.

By: kissmypineapple

kissmypineapple — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:39:20 +0000

My mom didn’t smoke when she was pregnant with me, but once a week she had one beer. Our doctor, who is seriously strict about everything, said after the first trimester, she could have a little bit of alcohol. I turned out awesome. I fully plan on having one little glass of wine/week if I’m pregnant, after the first trimester, and so I don’t judge anybody else on the decisions they make about their bodies during their pregnancies. It’s none of my business.

By: DaisyDeadhead

DaisyDeadhead — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:54:26 +0000

I smoked during pregnancy also; it was only then beginning to be an issue. (The “pregnancy warning” still wasn’t printed on the cigarette pack, yet.) I can only imagine the pressure on women these days!

I am sick of people judging pregnant women. If they care so much, let them bribe her financially to quit or STFU.

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:53:39 +0000

I think we also have to be careful about buying into ideas whose main function is to control women.

I don’t know the science on smoking and drinking during pregnancy, but I do know that a whole generation of women (including my grandmother) smoked throughout their pregnancies and as far as I know that generation of babies did not have more problems than any other generation.

It’s also my understanding that while fetal alcohol syndrome is well documented, there aren’t studies that say a an occasional glass of wine at dinner has any effect on a fetus. In fact, I have heard from recently pregnant women that their doctors have told them that one or two drinks once in a while is perfectly fine.

The idea that pregnant women have a duty not to smoke or drink at all just gives random strangers the self-righteousness to tell pregnant women what they should and shouldn’t do. Every pregnant woman has to make decisions about how to prioritize what she wants to do and the health of her fetus. Sky-diving? maybe not. Sitting at home because of second hand smoke in a bar? imho, not worth it.

By: Milly

Milly — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:58:15 +0000

I remember reading a story on the BBC about how some teenagers were deliberately smoking while pregnant to give birth to smallers (and less painful) babies. I’ve looked for the source, but can only find this one to the story on the Daily Mail, which is notoriously right-wing so take it with a pinch of salt perhaps… http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=408367&in_page_id=1770

By: Cara

Cara — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:15 +0000

Thanks for sharing, jenjen. I’m glad that everything eventually worked out for you and that both you and your son are healthy!

By: jenjen

jenjen — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:45:31 +0000

I smoked, both tobacco and cannabis, and drank alcohol all through my unintended pregnancy. I also took St John’s Wort antidepressants, because I suffer from PTSD following the suicide of my parents. I am still on prescription medication but managed to give up smoking after 24 years, when my son was a tiny baby. Alcohol is no longer an issue, either. My son is absolutely fine and very healthy. Of course I know that my lifestyle was most unhealthy and inappropriate. That was then – now I am extremely glad to still be alive, knowing that I have successfully passed on my gene pool.

You do what you have to do in order to get by. Some of us are lucky enough to be able to find the strength to change and move forward.
Not once was I judged by my medical attendants for my then lifestyle. They understood only too well that pregnant single women with no family support need all the crutches they can get. I live in England. I guess things are different here…

By: Tracey

Tracey — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:05:19 +0000

“It’s always interesting and a little unsettling to have a hidden bias exposed.”

Good call. But the willingness to examine these is what, I believe, sets the liberals/feminists/progressives/whatever apart from everyone else.

I think biases are one of the biggest barriers we have against getting through to “pro-life” people. They tend to have an overwhelming bias against women who “irresponsibly” get pregnant, and that bias makes them think women should have to accept the “consequences” of their actions. That bias keeps them so predisposed to judge women for their actions that it blinds them from other issues of equality, autonomy, and bodily integrity.