Pregnant Smokers

FBS1996 · #1 07-09-2011, 06:15 PM

Here's a little story for you guys:

I started my work experience on Monday. Yesterday, I got of the bus at 9:30am but my work starts at 10, so I walked around town for a bit. I got a drink from the shop and when I was in the queue, there was an obviously pregnant women in front of me. She walks up to the counter and asks the man for a 20 pack of some cigs (Richmond? I cant remember) and the man gave her a pretty dirty look. The women said "Oh, don't worry these aren't for me, they're for my boyfriend. I wouldn't dare smoke when I'm pregnant!". She bought the cigs then left. On the way to my work, I saw the exact same women sitting on a bench, smoking a cigarette! I felt like going over and saying something (of course, I didn't, I'm not that type of person)

What are you views on these people? Have you ever encountered something similar to this? I just felt the need to share this story

WyrmDL · #2 07-09-2011, 06:20 PM

Ugh. I would've confronted her. I've never encountered a situation like that, and I'm kind of glad I haven't so far. It would irk me for the whole week at least.

nick g. · #3 07-09-2011, 06:21 PM

Cool story, bro.

tekdiver500ft · #4 07-09-2011, 06:24 PM

Quite often. When my wife was pregnant (we smoked at the time, obviously), her OB/GYN told her that the stress of quitting during pregnancy would be more detrimental than continuing to smoke at a minimal level. So, she went from two packs a day to five smokes a day while pregnant.

Many (I would posit "nearly all") people who smoke know that they shouldn't, and I am sure that many of them feel bad about it, and are tired of being judged, so they try to cover the fact that they smoke (like we can't tell!) with little lies so other people will leave them alone. Is it right? No, but it is understandable.

**colcifer** · #5 07-09-2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

Quite often. When my wife was pregnant (we smoked at the time, obviously), her OB/GYN told her that the stress of quitting during pregnancy would be more detrimental than continuing to smoke at a minimal level. So, she went from two packs a day to five smokes a day while pregnant.

That's a good point.

FBS1996 · #6 07-09-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick g.

Cool story, bro.

Ursus Tyrannus · #7 07-09-2011, 06:47 PM

Again, really?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyrmDL

Ugh. I would've confronted her. I've never encountered a situation like that, and I'm kind of glad I haven't so far. It would irk me for the whole week at least.

When are all the non smokers gonna round up the smokers and put them in camps...I mean designated smoking sections.
I'll tell ya, the last stranger who came up to me to lecture me on my personal habits left the conversation unsatisfied but more wary about harassing strangers with his unsolicited personal views.

James Hart · #8 07-09-2011, 06:52 PM

To each their own...

My Mom smoked throughout her pregnancy for both me and my sister. We both came out fine... but that was the late 60s and early 70s and before smoking was bad for people.

stratovani · #9 07-09-2011, 06:54 PM

My Mom smoked when she was pregnant with me, but then again, almost all women smoked while pregnant in 1954!

tastybasslines · #10 07-09-2011, 07:14 PM

WildWes · #11 07-09-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

My Mom smoked when she was pregnant with me, but then again, almost all women smoked while pregnant in 1954!

That's what makes "boomers" hearty. Smoking moms, lead paint on our toys, asbestos everywhere, baby cribs with wide slats, drinking water from the garden hose, nothing low-fat or low-sodium. Good times.

echoSE7EN · #12 07-09-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

Jeebus...

warwick.hoy · #13 07-09-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FBS1996

What are you views on these people? Have you ever encountered something similar to this? I just felt the need to share this story

My view is that it isn't any of my damn business,....if they wanna eff up their kid then that's their business. If they don't do it by drinking or smoking while pregnant I'm sure they will find some other way.

armywalaby · #14 07-09-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

My view is that it isn't any of my damn business,....if they wanna eff up their kid then that's their business. If they don't do it by drinking or smoking while pregnant I'm sure they will find some other way.

It becomes our business when they are requesting tax dollars for medical aid because of their negligence. I still enjoy a cigarette from time to time, so I feel hypocritical to call someone out regardless of anything.

(soapbox) I do believe that the collective self-centered attitude will be the demise of this country (/soapbox)

poorbassist15 · #15 07-09-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick g.

Cool story, bro.

lol, this.

Phalex · #16 07-09-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

To each their own...

My Mom smoked throughout her pregnancy for both me and my sister. We both came out fine... but that was the late 60s and early 70s and before smoking was bad for people.

This. I'm pretty sure my mother didn't quit smoking when she was pregnant with me, and I weighed damn near 12# when I was born.

OldDog52 · #17 07-09-2011, 09:05 PM

You go girl! Don't worry that virtually everyone looking at you doing that thinks "What a fool!", except possibly for Dr. Douglass. I'm guessing Dr. Douglass sees no harm in it.

anyonefortennis · #18 07-09-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armywalaby

It becomes our business when they are requesting tax dollars for medical aid because of their negligence. I still enjoy a cigarette from time to time, so I feel hypocritical to call someone out regardless of anything.

(soapbox) I do believe that the collective self-centered attitude will be the demise of this country (/soapbox)

OP said she was buying cigs at a convenience store, not the Medicaid line.

Also, no different than than gov't aid paying for a triple bypass for the fat f***s that can't keep their hands off double quarter pounders and twinkies.

warwick.hoy · #19 07-09-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armywalaby

It becomes our business when they are requesting tax dollars for medical aid because of their negligence. I still enjoy a cigarette from time to time, so I feel hypocritical to call someone out regardless of anything.

(soapbox) I do believe that the collective self-centered attitude will be the demise of this country (/soapbox)

That still doesn't make anyone who would walk up to total stranger and tell them that their cigarette smoking is poisoning their unborn child any less self righteous and even then,...there is no guarantee that the fetus will be harmed by the mother smoking,...or that the mother or child will require taxpayer money to take care of any health issues related to the mother smoking while pregnant. Anyone that would come up to me preaching their holier then thou values would be told to pound sand.

This nanny mentality is silly. People are capable of making their own choices and far be it for me to tell other people how to ruin their lives. Would you walk up to people in a fast food restaurant and tell them that eating that junk will give them diabetes and that you aren't happy that you are gonna be stuck footing the bill? Smoking while pregnant isn't a decision I would make for myself,...but I don't really have to worry about that.

There are a few things that this government pays for with my tax dollar that I wish they wouldn't. Healthcare is not on that list.

anyonefortennis · #20 07-09-2011, 09:19 PM

People make decisions that put others at an unnecessary risk all the time. Floor it on a yellow light, dump chemicals, construction people cutting corners.

A 98 year old that get's t-boned by a drunk driver is not any less of a victim than an unborn child whose mother drinks/smokes/does drugs. Both are victims of other people's stupidity.