Today is the day

Anna, 40, stopped smoking to increase her chances of having children

“To anyone who wants to stop smoking, please don’t give up hope! Even if it takes 50 attempts, when your mind is set, you can achieve anything.”

Relationship with smoking
I started smoking properly in my twenties, but had the occasional cigarette as a teenager as you do! I remember I started as I was feeling a little stressed, I walked into a shop and bought a packed. God knows why I did it but that was that, I was a smoker.

I then remained a smoker as I really couldn’t break the habit and everyone around me smoked. I did it socially and used it as a stress release too.

Why quit
I wanted to quit smoking but never got round to it. I always had one excuse or another! When I met my previous partner who I went on to marry, we were trying for a family and I couldn’t get pregnant. It was suggested that stopping smoking could increase my fertility and it was the kickstart I needed.

Tools to quit
I contacted my local stop smoking service a few times, but I was finding it hard to quit. Then, one day, I looked online and saw where the nearest local session was and I went along. I made a vow then to be smoke free by my first wedding anniversary.

As I was trying for a family, I started using patches, but I was allergic to the plastic so I then tried the inhaler. Again this was no good for me. I then made the massive decision to put the chance of getting pregnant on hold to go on Champix. I woke up the next day and started my incredible journey.

While quitting, when times were bad I wanted a cigarette, but I didn’t have one and every day that went by I grew stronger. Each day that passed was another under my belt. Even now, the smell of a cigarette can sometimes smell nice but other times it doesn’t at all.

Changes
I’ve now been smoke free for 10 years and I’ve never looked back! My proudest achievement is 12 to 18 months after smoking I became pregnant. I went on to have two wonderful daughters.

Quit together
Times have been tough recently with the breakdown of my marriage, but I never went back to smoking as a coping technique. Even though it did cross my mind, I wasn’t going to let what happened affect me in that way.

To anyone who wants to stop smoking, please don’t give up hope! Even if it takes 50 attempts, when your mind is set, you can achieve anything.