I am in my late 20's, and this is the story of how quitting smoking after sixteen years of addiction and experiencing five heart-breaking miscarriages transformed my life and led to a successful pregnancy. The journey was long and arduous, marked by sorrow, hope, and ultimately, the joy of new life.
After the birth of my first child at the age of 17, I faced the devastating loss of multiple pregnancies over the years. Each miscarriage was a painful reminder of the challenges my body faced in carrying a child to term. Despite my deep yearning for another baby, the road to a successful pregnancy seemed clouded with despair and uncertainty.
Through the years of struggle, smoking had been a constant companion - a crutch that I leaned on in times of stress and sadness. Little did I know that this very habit of smoking over 20 cigarettes a day was sabotaging my chances of conceiving and carrying a child to full term. It wasn't until I made the courageous decision to quit smoking that the tide began to turn in my favour.
Six months after taking that pivotal step to quit smoking, a miracle unfolded before my eyes. I discovered that I was pregnant once again, and this time, something felt different. The choice to prioritise my health and well-being by quitting smoking had opened a door to new possibilities which were very much unexpected, as I intentionally made the choice to quit due to the seriousness of my asthma symptoms daily getting worse, and to my surprise was also paving the way for a successful pregnancy that had eluded me for so long.
As the weeks turned into months, I watched in awe as my body responded to the newfound health and vitality that came with quitting smoking, I could breath better, I could engage in more physical play with my daughter as my asthma progressed positively, and as well as the pregnancy I have now been off the blue salbutamol inhaler for 6 months as it is no longer needed. I nurtured my physical and emotional well-being, knowing that each day without cigarettes brought me closer to the dream of holding a healthy baby in my arms as well as feeling much more fit and healthy within and knowing my life will expand allowing me more time with my children.
And now, here I am, 30 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby girl. The joy and gratitude that fill my heart are immeasurable, a testament to the transformative power of choosing life over cigarettes. Through the simple act of quitting smoking, I have unlocked a world of possibilities and embraced the miracle of new life growing within me.
As I prepare to welcome my second daughter into the world, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and awe. The journey to this moment has been filled with challenges and triumphs, but through it all, the decision to quit smoking stands out as a beacon of hope and renewal.
This is my story - a story of resilience, determination, and the life-changing impact of choosing health and wellness. Quitting smoking was not just a decision but a catalyst for transformation, a key that unlocked the door to a future filled with promise and joy. And as I look towards the horizon, I do so with a heart full of gratitude for the gift of new life that I hold within me.
Ending on that note I would like to acknowledge Mharia from the SmokeFree Hull team who has been my support and advocate throughout my journey and called me yesterday to congratulate me on my 1 year smoke-free. I think it has been very important for me to have a member of the team who spoke well to me and motivated me with her words and praise every week at the start of my journey and more importantly continuously encouraged me to keep going even during stressful times when I felt like I wanted to light up a cigarette. I am pleased to say a cigarette or any tobacco or vape of the sort has not touched my lips and the poison hasn't entered my body in 366 days today. Thanks again Mharia and Smokefree Hull. your work and your team is massively appreciated by me. I hope I can inspire others to take the leap of faith and quit smoking today. with love :) x
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