Smoking while Pregnant

First of all, let me just say I'm a smoker. I've been a smoker for 8 years, and I started for retarded reasons. My opinions my be biased. It's a very hard habit to break, and I can sympathize with that difficulty. HOWEVER.

I always said that the latest point in life that I would absolutely, undoubtedly and unquestionably QUIT was when I got pregnant (if ever). I would never ever want to even run the risk of harming my parasitic fetus in such a way that could affect it's life outside of my womb and into the future. My PERSONAL decision would be to stop at any cost because it's not worth the risk. (And yea, it's only a RISK. There's not a 100% chance that your kid will be fucked if you smoke/drink whatever during pregnancy).

Now. That said.

NO ONE has the right to tell a person what they can and can not do with their own bodies. Yea, it sucks. Yea, it could be child abuse. But while the mother is carrying that baby, both life forms are compacted into ONE body who makes all the decisions.

You could not and SHOULD NOT outlaw a mother's right to smoke while she's carrying child. It's an out-right violation of personal freedom if you ask me. If a mother wants to smoke while she's with child, it's her loss - not mine. (Except for the small portion of my income that will take care of her kid's ailments, the stupid ass).

Like SS said - you can't outlaw these things. It's stupid. A person's right to chose is a person's right to chose - no matter HOW FUCKING RETARDED the choice may be.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by nadienne

Someone else's right to smoke shouldn't outweigh my right to be able to breathe. That's what they made outside for, so people can smoke. I'm all for people doing whatever they want to their own bodies, but when it starts infringing on my rights, we're not cool.

I recommend you watch Penn & Teller's BULLSHIT! on secondhand smoking. (It's mostly entertainment, but they're making a good point in the show - and it's overall a pretty good show.)

I hate to break it to you, but despite the fact that I am a smoker (and I admit, a little biased, here), this "secondhand" bullshit is really overblown. (Ask me to post some published articles if you're interested).

The only risk to your health from secondhand smoke is if you're exposed to prolonged cigarette smoke constantly. Something like a small child living in a house where one or more adults smoke on a regular basis. I can tell you THAT shit is true - I've seen the differences.

But truely, you can't really suffer any long-term affects from walking by a few smokers on the street or having a a conversation with a smoker over coffee. That's pretty much a myth.

I understand non-smokers don't like the SMELL at all, and the smoke my irritate them a little - but you know, I may happen to be allergic to some perfumes/colognes and have bad reactions to them! I may sincerely dislike the perfume/cologne you're wearing! I may think you made a VERY UNHEALTHY decision about weraring that particular scent!

But that does not give me the right to tell you what you should and should not do with your own body. You can't OUTLAW things just because you don't LIKE them.

There's nowhere I can't reach.