Luanne

Luanne became smokefree the day she learned that smoking took oxygen away from her baby.

When I found out I was pregnant I thought I would be able to stop straight away. It wasn’t as easy as I thought. The more I cut down, the more I wanted one. In my head I was ready, but my body wanted more.

When I was pregnant I read a baby book that said that every time you had a smoke the baby would cough and splutter for five minutes inside the womb because he couldn’t get oxygen.

I wanted this baby so much. Putting him under stress was too much for me. Shocking in fact. I stopped that day and I never looked back.

On the day I stopped I was five out of ten confident, but the next day was different.  After getting through that first day and night I realised I didn’t need smoking and felt even better. Each week I felt so excited. I’ve remained smokefree since 2nd February, 2008.

I had been thinking about stopping smoking for a long time. I would put it into the future, telling myself - the day I find out I am pregnant  I will stop. So I was shocked that I couldn’t. I was conscious every time of what I was doing. I knew it was wrong.

I kept hoping that one day, surely something’s going to happen that will make me stop. I’d think ‘At least I don’t drink or do drugs.’  Excuses. Excuses.

I did stop for two and a half years, three and a half years ago. I had a cold and was coughing. There was a lump in my throat, all this brown stuff. It looked like tobacco. I got a fright, panicked and stopped cold turkey.

I would never go back to it, now. Seeing the man dying on the TV ads is the most shocking ad I’ve ever seen. It’s the best. Makes me see that this is horrendous. It’s got to stop. I would never do that to myself again. The ads make you aware of what you are doing. They had a huge impact. Some ads are not as hitting. I ignore those ones.

I don’t smell any more. I pick up my baby and I know he can’t smell anything. Before, I would go for a walk and start to feel puffed. I am really into my fitness so that was scary. I’m feeling good now. My teeth are nice. My breath is nice. Kissing is better. A bottle of perfume will last now!

My other two children were quite small at birth. This baby was bigger than both of them. I really believe that smoking slows their growing. Had I kept smoking what might have happened to Luke?

My partner doesn’t smoke. He never gave me a hard time. No nagging. I felt supported. My other two, they’re seventeen and fourteen, They were upset, last time, that I had started again. Not impressed! And they would voice what they thought. They are rapt now. It’s been six months.

Everyone is so happy in the family. It’s so nice to feel clean, happy, healthy. I can really smell someone who smokes now and I want to say ‘I wouldn’t do that.’ I wonder to myself how nice they’d look if they didn’t smoke. And the money. Fifteen smokes a day adds up to sixty dollars a week you could spend on petrol. It’s a huge money saver.

I hated those looks. I’d be in the car by myself at traffic lights and see people looking at me. That was huge for me. On the footpath, people would walk around me. I’d feel uncomfortable. I feel socially acceptable now.

With patches and gum, I wonder do they really work or is it just another money thing? I can’t say I believe a hundred per cent in patches and gum.

Usually when I make a decision, I do stick with it. Smoking was one thing I wasn’t strong about. I have discipline in everything else in my life. Now I don’t have to do that, smoke, any more. I can live my life without having a cigarette.

Luanne's Closing Words

I feel sorry for people who are still smoking. It smells. Gosh, I am so glad that’s not me anymore. I wish the best for anyone trying to be smokefree. I’d say, keep going. Try and try and try. Don’t kick yourself. It’s worth it. Just keep at it. Something will happen. It will work for you.