I think it's like the lessor of two evils. We all know you shouldn't smoke
while pregnant (or at all), and yet some people do. If your choice is smoke
while pregnant, or use a nicotine patch to try to quit while pregnant, then
obviously the patch is better than a cigarette. Cold turkey is better yet,
but a hellofa lot harder. But no doctor is going to say to you that it's a
great idea to go on the patch while pregnant, because if your baby were to
have ANY sort of physical anomoly or issue, you could then blame the
nicotine, and them, for saying it was okay.

Make sense? I think this is one of those issues where you are going to have
to make your own decision, and are not going to be able to get the hard and
fast answer you are looking for.
--

Jamie Clark

www.ClarkDigitalArts.com

"Kat" wrote in message
...
I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about this.
I find I am getting mixed messages and answers wherever I look.
I ended up finding a (somewhat) local study about using a nicotine patch
while pregnant...
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/uofcpubl...12-07/nicotine
To my understanding, it basically says that a patch might be a safe
alternative to smoking while pregnant (I mean to use a nicotine patch to
quit smoking while pregnant, rather than continue to smoke during
pregnancy)
The box for like Nicoderm, or whatever kind of nicotine patch, says not to
use while breastfeeding or pregnant. It (obviously) doesn't say why.
Today at my appointment, I specifically asked. My OB said she doesn't
recommend it. To me, that isn't a yes or a no answer. Just that she
doesn't recommend it. She also didn't say why or anything like that. By
saying she doesn't recommend it, to me, that seems like she's NOT saying,
"Oh yes, go ahead and give it a shot!" or "No, no, don't do it!"

So I called the local 'Smoker's Help Line' to ask about this. See if I
can get an actual yes or no as to if a nicotine patch is alright, and why.
I was transferred to the 24 hour health line run by nurses and gave up
being on hold after about 10 or so minutes and decided I'd wait until
later tonight when it won't be so busy to get through to someone.

Does anyone know anything about a nicotine patch during pregnancy?