Pregnancy Intervention

Fri. Jun 19, 2009 | 5:43 AM

They might be pregnant, but they're still addicts.

With the addition of a little one to the family, the party might be over, but the adventure is just beginning -- but pregnancy isn't stopping these soon-to-be-mommies from indulging. And we don't mean indulging in a hot fudge sundae with a side of pickles -- we mean in smoking, drinking, even drugs! Along with a panel of experts, Tyra takes on a pregnancy intervention to help these women change their lives -- as well as the lives of their unborn babies.

NEXT: The Best Tyra Show Moment Ever!

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First of all I want to get one thing straight, for any woman who smokes and discovers they are pregnant and makes the choice to not kick the habit does not deserve to be given the title of "mother". You have no will to consider the thought that your child is worth it every step of the way. It really burns me that it was so easy for me to give it up nevermind the fact that I had been smoking on and off since I was thirteen, but it was not until August 2008 that I made the discovery that I was pregnant. I discovered it was not about me anymore but more about my child. I gave it up and if it were not for me telling everyone around me to deny me having one no matter how much I needed one, I needed the discipline more. Gabriel was born on March 27 with no signs of illness. How could anyone say that "Iknow its hurting him/her, but it is hard to quit." or the father supporting the habit without even considering your hurting the child even more. I feel no pity for the mothers only the child cause they were not given the choice.

Posted by Jennifer Prinzo 06/22/09 8:05 AM

For these women to do these kind of things to their unborn child is just horrible. All of them kept on saying they have tried to quit smoking several times and it is so hard. This is your baby we are talking about, have some self control. I smoked before my second and third pregnancy and once I found out I was pregnant I quit instantly. How could I not their was a precious baby in my tummy that was helpless and I was their only hope for survival.Anyone that loves their babies can do this, is not brain surgery.

Posted by Maggie 06/21/09 11:56 AM

Hey tyra im ella from singapore. Im currently 8 mths pregnant. Due to alot of stress from my family Im a heavy smoker. I tried quiting many times but i've failed. This is my first pregnancy and im only 20. At 7mths the doctor told me that my baby is quite small. I need help but just dont know where or who to go to.

Posted by Ella 06/21/09 11:11 AM

Tyra I need some advice.My Fiance's Brother was in the army and was up in New York until He got kicked out due to Him using drugs. When He came back to Texas He brought a girl back saying she was pregnant. They both smoke and I know He did do coke and they have a roommate who constantly is doing drugs around her. I dont know if shes doing drugs, but I do know she does smoke every day, when I asked about it she said the doctor told her it was ok that she should just slow down. Since she is an addict and if she just quits cold turkey then the impact of that could harm the baby.Is this true? I think its BS but Ive never gotten along with my Fiance's brother because of his drug usage and his anger issues so I dont have a clue as to how I would go about asking her to quit ecspecially since in 3wks they are going back to New York to live with her Mom.Thank you.I love your show and I think its great how you are such a great role model for women. I always think of Eve from sunnyville :) Love you!

Posted by MaryLou Gallegos 06/20/09 3:42 PM

O.k., I am a 22 year old female that is currently pregnant. I "use" to smoke like a pack of black and milds Daily. When I found out that I was pregnant I was paranoid as hell. 1 because I naturally was worried about how I was going to stop smoking. That was my biggest concern more so than anything. I'm not going to lie with-in the first week of me finding out I immediately tried to stop but one day my urges and cravings got the best of me and I snuck and tried to smoke one. Afterward I felt so guilty. I decided then and there that my baby meant way more to me than SMOKING. I am currently approaching 5 months and I have been able to fight the craving, it's in my belief more mental than anything. Something that I also did was tell my close family and friends that I was pregnant so they'd be able to make sure that I didn't smoke. I think that if deep inside you really don't want to quit then you'll be selfish and don't stop. But that child didn't ask to be inside of you so it's unfair in my opinion to make that child suffer because they don't have the voice to tell you to stop. I also believe the black woman that was on the show really don't want to stop smoking. She don't recognize the need to stop because she have 2 other kids that made it through so why wont this one? That's crazy. I cant stand the smell nor the taste anymore which my doctor told me is natural and that my body would more than likely do.

Posted by Queen Tree 06/20/09 6:35 AM

Im really ashemed of this women.im am five months pregnant and i think i would do anything to make sure that i give birth to a very healthy baby . i think if they want to stop they will stop . i remember during the first stages of my pregnancy i had to agree with my boyfriend whom we stay together that he would stop smoking and he acctually did so i believe that if you want or if you are willing to do something you can do it .

Posted by Millicent Kadzo 06/20/09 4:52 AM

I'm a little pissed about one of your "guest speakers" or whatever she wants to call herself, the "addiction know-it-all" When you have your bulimic guest, you could tell she was super emotional about her addiction. The Addiction woman, with her Captain obvious tone, "HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR CHILD?" It just really angered me.. If she knows so much about this, why is she being that rude to a PREGNANT woman, who KNEW about this, and wanted help... what was the point of her being on the show... she wasn't any big help... didn't even give any good advice... just WTF And thank you for helping these women. I'm not addicted to anything, nor and I pregnant... but it's something I'm highly sensitive to.. Thank you for helping these, and many other women. I LOVE YOU TYRA!

Posted by Joy 06/19/09 11:53 PM

I feel that women who have any sort of addiction when they are pregnant should get help. You're not only putting your health at risk but your unborn child as well.My advice to anyone who is in this situation is get professional help. Don't give excuses anymore or feel victimize by your addition break your addiction and get Healthy!!!!!!

Posted by Margarita 06/19/09 8:39 PM

If quitting smoking was easy Marlboro would be out of business by now... it took me umpteen times to quit for good, and you need more help than people doing an intervention and saying quit!!! Oh, ok thank you for telling me I need to quit smoking- I will do that right now!?! Why didn't you tell me sooner (sarcasm).

Posted by Marsha 06/19/09 8:27 PM

I am 16 weeks pregnant and found out when I was about 6 weeks. I smoked a pack a day since I was 15 (26 now) and I stopped that day. Nothing since. I was a little edgy for about 3 days but I didn't withdrawal or anything and I have been smoking for 11 years. It's not that difficult. I also ditched the daily pots of coffee (THAT was hard!!) and I stopped the diet soda because it contains more caffeine than real soda and the artificial sweetener. I couldn't kick my soda habit completely so I now limit my real coke intake to just one can a day. My husband and I have been waiting 5 years for this baby and I am not going to have a sick baby over something as stupid as smoking.

Posted by Wendy 06/19/09 5:38 PM

tyra..i watched your show today..and i think that it was a sad decussion..I'm 7 1/2 pregnant.. and i was a smoker..but what made me stop..is when i went to a cancer clinic for children..oh tyra it broke my heart..and i stopped ever since then..and i feel so much better..But i understand what they are talking about..like the addiction and all. I guess everyone is different..because every time i end up pregnant i do what i have to do to protect my child..love you tyra..

Posted by chitara jenkins 06/19/09 5:26 PM

Any person that is an addict and pregnant and is trying to get help, or at least acknowledges that you need help, is so strong! I applaud you all that have spoken about your personal trials and tribulations. But those of you like HEATHER FELDE.... please please please don;t have children. I have to agree with Sarah, Heather is the most irresponsible self centered person. I don't feel like the women on the show were attacked, but held responsible for their actions on an unborn child. I believe Tyra and the doctor were just passionate in what they were trying to execute, and some took it as attacking. If anything involves a child, it SHOULDN'T be taken lightly and get a slap on the hand. It should be a crime, and you should try to get help and admit to your flaws. Addiction is horrible and hard, I truly understand, but when it's no longer about you, you must do EVERYTHING to try to help your child.

Posted by Destiny B. 06/19/09 5:19 PM

Heather Felde! YOU ARE SO IMMATURE AND CRAZY! You said "I do not care if it involves an unborn child", you should not have a right to even pro-create! You are so immature talking about Tyra's appearance! What does that have to do with anything??! You are so extremely self centered to not even think about the unborn child, rather about you being insulted. Who cares about you, it's the child Tyra and everyone else is trying to help. You are so angry inside that you are taking it out on Tyra! You feel guilty, and don't say I don't even know you, because it's so apparent and obvious that you are an angry individual. To take help and turn it into you thinking people are trying to tell you how to live and think, is so irrational. I hope your child is nothing like you.

Posted by Sarah 06/19/09 5:12 PM

WOW! A mother whos daughter licked drugs and placed a straw up her nose?...Pregnant women not willing to put their own personal needs aside and sacrifice their needs and wants for their unborn children? This was an absolute shocking episode for me. When I was only 12 a began smoking cigarettes and by the time I was 14 it was pot as well. I am now 21 years old and those two things have both followed me since. I was up to almost 2 packs day! I swore up and down it was what "I" needed not what I "wanted". Going a day without a cig meant everyone around me suffered with my attitude with my stress. Basically it was absolute hell for anyone I crossed. I knew I was addicted. About 3 weeks ago I found out I was pregnant with my 1st child. Immediatly without a thought, I just stopped smoking...I have trouble understanding these women and why it is so easy for them to accept what they are doing to their children. How their unborn children are suffering because they want to be selfish. It's absolutly ridiculous! And I feel sorry for their children.

Posted by Elizabeth 06/19/09 5:09 PM

Heather Felde, you are an IGNORANT woman. You are so selfish and so full of crap! You should not even have children if you have to worry about how a bill will get paid and if you worry about having to live in cars. What kind of mother are you to bring a child into that?? AND to top it off, you don't take people's empathy to try to knock some sense into people like you, instead you pretend like you're a martyr and try to convince yourself and others, that THEY are doing wrong. YOU ARE to blame! Not Tyra, not anyone. You need to wake up and see that if you bring a child into this world where YOU can;t even survive, how do you expect to help the child survive? You are the most ignorant person, about just a real subject matter. You sound really like a low-life that has no clue or grasp of reality. I feel so sorry for you!

Posted by Anonymous 06/19/09 5:04 PM