Nottinghamshire residents Liz and Josh both smoked since their early teens. They decided to quit during Liz’s pregnancy and now, with a new baby, they are determined to keep it up.
Liz and Josh used to have a work and social circle where smoking was a part of their day-to-day behaviours and routines - on a break from work, when feeling stressed or anxious, when socialising or relaxing.
I would have a cup of coffee in the morning with a cigarette because it just went hand in hand. It was my morning routine.
During Liz’s pregnancy, seeing the scans of the baby was a turning point and they decided together to do something about their smoking, and support each other through the process.
It was seeing him on the screen. We knew obviously what the risks were smoking whilst pregnant, we're not oblivious to what happens and what can be caused by that. For us, it was like a realisation kind of thing, we were just like, we need to do something. We knew that we didn't want this for him, we didn't want him around this.
He was blowing 40-45 on a CO monitor, I was blowing 39 somewhere like that. So, ridiculously high! Within two weeks we re-blew, and we were both down to 2. It was crazy within two weeks how much of a difference just not having a cigarette made. For us, it was a big thing to just keep going.
Once their baby was born, he gave Josh a new resolve not to go back to smoking.
I could have easily picked up a glass of whiskey and smoked, but I think for me, mentally, it was the case of, no, this is not about us anymore. It's about the baby. It's all about him and his wellbeing and upbringing, we don't want that around him.
The couple have high praise for the non-judgmental support they received from the Phoenix Team and don’t think they would have had the success they’ve had without them. Receiving Love to Shop vouchers as incentives along the way was a nice bonus for Liz and a good motivation to keep going.
I couldn't recommend these guys enough, they've just been amazing. Even after birth, still amazing - they're still checking in on us and making sure that we’re OK. It’s the sort of environment that I think made the process easier, because it was just like talking to a family member or talking to your mate.
Liz and Josh have put a lot of the money they have saved towards getting things they need for the baby, and feel quitting has made a huge different to them financially.
It does help pregnant ladies or new families, in that way, because you just see a big difference between the money that you were spending on cigarettes. When you look at it over a week and you imagine that money going on your child or on your unborn child, it goes a long, long way. It's definitely worth giving up, I would absolutely recommend it.
What do you feel are the benefits of giving up smoking have been?
I'm not coughing up my guts in the mornings! And I actually have an appetite now, I can taste food better and have a better sense of smell, I think. I find that my skin's a lot healthier as well, less dry.
I feel healthier, I feel better for it, it starts to work.