Hello!

22 Comments

A mum has been slammed for calling out a pregnant woman she spotted smoking in a kids’ playground.

The woman took to parenting site Netmums to reveal her disgust at the woman, who she claimed looked about six or seven months pregnant.

The poster was in the playground with her daughters at the water fountain when she looked up and saw an elderly woman smoking.

“I was a bit annoyed that she didn’t just move away from the area, but whilst looking over at her a pregnant lady caught my attention,” the mum wrote.

“Firstly, I noticed her hair and then how big her baby bump was and then to my disbelief a huge cloud of smoke came out of her mouth.

“I was so upset and angry and wanted to say something, I could not stop looking over at her,” she said.

“She had two cigarettes in the 10 minutes we were there which she openly smoked and did not care.”

The woman said she is a smoker herself but she would never do it in the house or around her children.

“I don’t think our poor life choices should be impacted on a child who doesn’t have a choice to not be around it,” she said.

“It has really disturbed me and I keep thinking about it.”

Comments were divided with some saying it was just plain rude, while others said there is nothing worse than seeing a pregnant woman smoking.

The discussion on Today this morning saw most of the hosts say please just mind your own business!

What do you think, step in or mind your own business?

Share your comments below

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • I agree that its one of the most disgusting things but at the same time just because someone is smoking while pregnant it doe not give you the right to be rude and say something to them unless you are their Doctor or they ask your opinion. Sharing what you think whille not change the situation and will only add extra negative emotions to the situation.

    She said “I don’t think our poor life choices should be impacted on a child who doesn’t have a choice to not be around it,” …… Well just by smoking you are impacting your child/children as its them that will have to deal with your ill health at some point in their lives. I speak from experience as the loss of both my parents and my husband was something both myself and my children had to deal with.

    Reply

  • There are no smoking laws prohibiting this from happening close to playgrounds. I think it is sad as she is pregnant but I do not think anyone looks cool smoking. It is a very dated pastime and most people are preoccupied with their health nowadays.

    Reply

  • Some smokers care enough to make sure their smoke is not drifting in the direction of another person regardless of age, put their butts out, make sure they aren’t hot and dispose of them responsibly in an appropriate container supplied or in a bin. I know a Mum who was on antidepressants and also a smoker. She was weaned off the medication and reduced her smoking. Medical professionals deemed it was safer for her to smoke than continue taking the medication.

    Reply

  • Whether she wants to smoke or not is nobody’s business but hers. I do have a problem with her smoking near other children and playground areas.

    Reply

  • I would never step in but in all honesty there are laws about not smoking within 10 meters of a playground to start with and I am always quite annoyed when people are blowing their smoke all over me and my kids. I also think it is disgraceful to smoke while pregnant. As soon as you start trying quit smoking! If my mother-in-law, who has smoked her whole life, can do it, I think anyone can! Think of your baby.

    Reply

  • Mind your own business! You can have your own opinion, but don’t inflict it on strangers. If it was a friend, you may be able to have a conversation… but not someone just sitting in the park.

    Reply

  • I actually don’t like it when I see anyone smoke around children/playground. Have some respect for those kids that aren’t yours. Very annoying. If you want to smoke, that’s fine just not around me or my kids!

    Reply

  • Very much kind your own business. It does annoy me when adults choose to smoke near kids playrounds and I feel hey should be no smoking areas as kids don’t have a choice. However, if a pregnant mum is smoking and you take issue with it I think it’s one of those times when your opinion is best kept to yourself. I’ve had relavltives smoke whilst pregnant and doctors actually warn against going cold turkey during pregnancy as it can shock he body and place stress on the pregnancy.

    Reply

  • Social media has a lot to answer for.

    Reply

  • Totally mind your own business ! I’m sure the pregnant lady knows herself of the possible effects of smoking on her unborn child. None of us is perfect, some smoke, some drink too much and others eat too much unhealthy foods or give that to their children.


    • Addictions are real for many people and smoking is one of them. Everyone including mums to be need support and strategies with giving up smoking. It can be difficult for some people to give up smoking. I am a non smoker and do not understand the addiction but know that is quite real for many people. I know mums that have got support with this and this seems a better way to go than to judge and comment. Useful and respectful and none accusatory discussion about how to get help is a better way to go. I have seen the confronting footage of what smoking can do to bubs and it is hard to watch and of course smoking has big impacts on mums too.

    Reply

  • Oh I’ll put my judgy boots on for this one too! As mums our first job is to put ourselves second and our babies first! The smoking mum has failed to do this by not quitting her habit and exposing her baby to her smoking. I feel sorry for that baby :( her Mum is a selfish twit.


    • I wouldn’t say anything but the Mum would’ve gotten a glare from me tbh.

    Reply

  • Smoking is proven to be bad for health at any stage of life. It does come down to choice of an individual. The effects of smoking on bubs have been proven too and this information needs to been seen to assist with women not smoking when pregnant.

    Reply

  • Too many do gooders out there! Mind your own business I’d say! Smokers get shamed too much these days. I’d be more concerned about the binge/heavy drinking and all the drugs out there.

    Reply

  • It’s certainly clear that smoking is a dangerous habit esp. to an unborn child but it’s not up to a stranger to say that.

    Reply

  • everyone makes their own choices. we all know the consequences of smoking.

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join