Lydia started smoking when she was 15 years due to peer pressure at school. Before she successfully became smokefree she had been smoking around 10 cigarettes a day for 12 years.
Then something wonderful happened. Lydia found out she was pregnant! Determined to protect her baby from the harms of cigarette smoke and have a healthy pregnancy, she knew she had to stop smoking.
Lydia found out about our stop smoking services through her midwife and she decided to give us a call. She was promptly booked an appointment with our expert NHS Health Improvement Practitioner, Lynne.
Lynne talked through all of the nicotine replacement products available and Lydia decided to quit smoking with the help of nicotine patches. Within the first week of using the patches she noticed that her nicotine withdrawal symptoms started to diminish. “I don’t think I could have done it without the patches, they were really effective at taking the cravings away. I’ve tried quitting cold turkey in the past and it’s too hard.”
To help prevent relapse, Lydia received weekly phone contact with Lynne for the first 4 weeks, then less frequently for a further 8 weeks. “Lynne was lovely and helpful. She said that if I had any issues, I could text her anytime. She always called on time and was very professional. Her calls really helped keep me motivated as I knew that she was going to ask me if I’d been smoking, and I didn’t want to let her down.”
As well as knowing that she was doing the best thing she could do to give her child a healthy start in life by protecting her baby from cigarette smoke, she also noticed almost immediate benefits to her health. “Before quitting I used to get chest infections and would frequently wake up in the mornings with a tight chest. That disappeared after a week of not smoking. My blood pressure is lower, my teeth are whiter, I smell nicer and I’m saving around £80 a month by not smoking.”
Lynne said: “I am so pleased to have been able to support Lydia with her quit attempt.
Lydia showed real determination from the start. With support, Lydia understood why we worry about smoking in pregnancy. She was committed to doing her very best to succeed, for her own health, and that of her baby. We found treatments that suited Lydia’s needs. This combined with regular telephone appointments, gave Lydia the tools to quit, and she has done brilliantly.
I am confident that Lydia will remain smoke free for the rest of her pregnancy and beyond. A fantastic achievement, and I wish Lydia all the best for the future.”
If you would like advice and support to quit smoking like Lydia, you can contact the One You Plymouth team today and we can help you take the first steps
to become smoke-free. Call 01752 437177 or email [email protected].