First, Congratulations on the safe delivery of your munchkin. Welcome to the unpredictable, most-rewarding venture – motherhood. I know it wasn’t easy for you to quit smoking for your baby’s sake during pregnancy, but you made the sacrifice.
Now, taking care of your little one, changing diapers, sleepless nights, and caring for a healing C Section wound is becoming overwhelming. You feel stressed and are considering your cigarette puff to relieve the anxiety. You’re not sure, “how soon can you smoke after c section?”
In the article, I have compiled all about smoking after undergoing a C Section and tips to help you quit this addictive habit.
Read on.
And How Soon Can You Smoke After C Section?
If you must smoke after a C Section, give your body time to recover. While every woman heals differently, do not take any nicotine before 4-6 weeks. According to experts, the nicotine in cigarettes slows the healing process after surgery such as C Section.
Further, avoid smoking to minimize the risk of post-surgery complications, including infections, lung failure, and heart conditions.
Smoking isn’t good for your health during pregnancy or after delivering your baby. It is understandable that nicotine addiction takes time to go away, but keep trying for your newborn’s safety.
Useful Tips To Resist Nicotine Cravings After C Section
Like any other addiction, smoking may be hard to quit. You’ll miss the pleasure it brings, and the calming effect nicotine brings when you’re stressed. Nevertheless, you succeeded during pregnancy and can do it after delivery.
Let’s explore a few practical tips to help you avoid/minimize smoking after giving birth.
- Adopt other stress-relieving techniques
A study by Science Direct cites psychological stressors as the leading cause of pregnancy-related smoking. Life after giving birth is equally stressful for any mother, making her opt for smoking. If your urge to puff comes when you feel stressed, try other techniques such as yoga, massage, or deep breathing to curb stress instead of smoking.
- Exercise
If you crave a cigarette, distract yourself by getting active. Taking a short walk, singing, or writing are activities you can try to forget the craving.
- Stay away from possible triggers.
Do you live with a smoker? If so, they could be playing a big role in creating the urge in you to smoke. When trying to quit smoking, avoid familiar smoking spots and stay away from smokers, as they are also triggers.
- Ask your doctor about nicotine replacement therapy
You may talk to your doctor about your desire to quit smoking. He may put you on nicotine replacement therapy. Your physician could give you medical options, including nasal sprays, nicotine gums/patches or lozenges, and non-nicotine stop-smoking drugs
- Chew on something to suppress the smoking urge
If you feel an urge for nicotine, chew fresh carrots, hard candy, nuts, or crunchy apples instead. They may not taste like your cigarette but are effective in gradually reducing the craving.
- Distract yourself
I know how strong and irresistible nicotine can be. But, every time smoking crosses your mind, do something different. Watch a movie, sing to your baby or try cooking a new recipe to distract yourself.
- Seek professional help
Don’t try handling your smoking addiction alone. Seek the help of a drug addiction counsellor. Your munchkin needs to grow in a smoking–free environment that only you can provide.
Is Smoking Safe After A C Section?
Smoking isn’t safe, especially after a major surgery like c section. According to Pubmed, smokers may experience post-operative complications more than non-smokers.
You may have stayed nicotine–free throughout your pregnancy, then all of a sudden, the smoking urge comes back strongly.
The following are possible risks if you choose to resume smoking after a c section:
- Heart-related complications
Nicotine is the highest part of the cigarette. When it combines with carbon monoxide, they mix with red blood cells to inhibit the free movement of oxygen, leading to heart problems.
- Lung damage or lung failure
Nicotine may damage your lungs by increasing mucus secretion, which leads to blocked airways. If there is no proper oxygen flow to your lungs, they may collapse.
- Distorted body immunity and infections
You just had surgery and are looking forward to a complication-free healing process. Recovery needs a strong immune system. Smoking distorts your immunity, leading to slow, delayed healing.
Further, your C Section wound is prone to infections due to decreased body immunity.
- Blood clotting
Nicotine thickens your blood. It may also make it sticky and easy to clot. Blood clots on the leg are riskier since they may travel to the lungs and cause a life-threatening condition (pulmonary embolism). Such clots after surgery are a major cause of heart attacks.
- Impaired/delayed healing of skin and body tissues
After a C Section, the skin and tissues around the uterus need vital nutrients to heal. Smoking prevents the delivery of crucial nutrition, impairing skin healing. Wounds in smokers may end up with serious scars.
Smoking brings more harm than good to a smoker’s life. Your body needs a favourable environment to recover from the C Section. The question, “how long should you wait to smoke after a C Section?” is crucial because nicotine intake before complete healing is dangerous.
Wrapping Up
Smoking is often associated with health risks across all ages. For pregnant and nursing mums, it can have detrimental effects on them and their babies.
The concern of how soon can I smoke after a C Section is not new among mothers who are smokers.
In summary, smoking isn’t safe for a mother recovering from a C Section. You’re advised to wait for at least 4-6 weeks to allow your body to heal.
It would be best to stop smoking, but relapses are normal, like other addictions.
However, nicotine replacement therapy, physical activities, alternative relaxation techniques, and avoiding smoking triggers are ways to help you curb nicotine cravings. For further assistance, talk to your healthcare provider.
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