If you smoke when breast feeding are you cancelling out the benefits?

[smoker]

I'm feeling guilty.

[pixiefish]

apparently it leaves your milk after a bit- not sure how long though- up to an hour maybe- someone else will be along to clarify this point.

So long as you're not smoking while you're actually bfing and wait the time it takes to leave your system then I spose it's better that you're bfing than not bfing IISWIM

Try and stop though smoker- I know it's hard cos i've been there-

[NotQuiteCockney]

No, it doesn't look like it: here .

[secur]

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[hercules]

As far as I know smoking and bf (not at the same time obviously) is better than not bf at all. Not as good as bf and not smoking but better to smoke and bf than not bf.

[SenoraPostrophe]

we've had this question before and it caused a row. In general it is still better for your baby to breastfeed even if you smoke.

I smoke and breastfeed (at different times) too. I try not to smoke immediately before a feed.

[smoker]

Thanks for your replies. Thanks for the link NQC, very helpful.

I have 8-10 cigarettes a day. Always in the garden (the children don't know i smoke). I am always washing my hands, cleaning my teeth etc to get rid of the smell.

I wish I didn't smoke, I gave up for a very long time, but stress got the better of me and I started again. Don't feel up to trying to give up at the moment but hope to soon.

[milward]

Still better to smoke & bf than smoke & formula feed. Second hand smoke is big prob for kids though so make sure no smoke in house & car. Do you want to stop? There was a support thread on mn - don't know where exactly

[Cod]

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[milward]

wrote previous reply just before your reply!!! Best wishes

[Branster]

from what I remember when reading about breastfeeding before having dd, there seem to be a thoery that for about 20min after you have a cigarette you'd still breathe out chemicals of some sort. based on that, i'd say (if you really must smoke) ahve a cigarette when the baby is asleep and don't get near her/him for at least 20min. and of course wash hands and brush your teeth. don't know how the milk is affected by smoking but i'm pretty sure that anything you put in your mouth (or even on your skin) has a great chance of ending up in the composition of the milk. could you not smoke just for a few months whilst breastfeeding?

[smoker]

I know it sounds horrible. But I'm trying to do my best in a difficult situation. I'm fully aware of my failings as a mother.

[Cod]

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[milward]

Smoker please don't feel bad - we all have things we'd rather change. If smoking is making you stressed would stopping be less stressful iyswim? My dh gave up smoking just like that - he decided & that was it. Never heard of anyone else doing this but it worked for him.

[smoker]

I'm planning on breast feeding for as long as possible, I really don't want to stop. There are a lot of things I get wrong as a mum, but I can breast feed and I find it easy and enjoyable. Unfortunately, I've got a lot of stress in my life and smoking helps. I feel quite upset that I'm screwing up yet again even though I'm trying to do the right thing.

[Heathcliffscathy]

in short NO!

you should be v pleased that you're breastfeeding. full stop.

great that you want to give up. now give yourself a break!!!!!!!!

[Gwenick]

smoker - try not to feel bad. I quit while pg with DS1 - started again (stress - it was either ciggies or alcohol and I figured a smoking mummy was better than a drunk one!). Quit again when I fell pg with DS2 but started again when he was 5 weeks pg.

I still smoke a few a day now, oh and I BF my first for 14 months.

[milward]

Smoker you're doing great!! If smoking helps then go with it - you're not smoking near your kids. Bf is so healthy for your little one - feel proud of this. You're doing the best for your kids & I acknowledge this xxx

[smoker]

I breast fed my others as well, but I wasn't smoking then. I felt guilty that I gave up too soon with my dd as she then had some health problems and I felt like i had let her down. I know this will be my last baby and I want to feed for as long as I can.

Just when I'm giving myself a pat on the back because I think I'm coping ok, I realise I'm not doing as well as I thought. It never occured to me that smoking while breast feeding was bad. Thick, I know.

[Gwenick]

smoker you're doing great - you BF you child!!! Of course all of us smokers 'know' that smoking isn't good for us, but when its something you use as 'stress relief' (and I don't care what the nonsmokers and the reformed smokers say it IS for some of us) it's a lot better than the other things that we could be doing, I'd rather be a smoking BF mum than a drunk one, or one that's got PND because I'd forced myself to quit something I wasn't 'ready' to quit.

[lucy5]

I smoked and bf for 18 months, not at the same time obviously. I did everything you did brushed teeth, went outside timed cigs carefully. Only as a smoker can you really appreciate the level of addiction and the amount of stress relief it brings. Dont beat youself up, you are doing your best. If Im totally honest I enjoy smoking.

[crazy]

I smoke (only 2 a day) always justifying it! I also smoked while breastfeeding (not at the same time) I read that it stays in your system for 90 mins, so to ease the guilt, I would only have one just after ds had fed, to allow time for it to wear off before next feed.

[cheekychops03]

Smoker.Its so sad to hear that you think you are failing as a mother. I bet you are not. Chin up.

[ScummyMummy]

That link sounds quite reassuring, smoker. Cheered me up anyway as I had the odd fag (away from babies) when breastfeeding and I wasn't even that stressed, just wanted nicotine. Chin up- doesn't sound like you need to make this a self-flaggelation issue to me. Sounds like you are doing great.

[Newyearmum]

Sympathy to you from an ex-smoker (although I'd bloody LOVE ONE RIGHT NOW but it's been 16 months (ie. length of pregnancy + age of baby )

I found the Alan Carr book fantastic for me. Of course, you do have to want to stop for it to work.

And from a former 30 a day-er, I promise it's possible to enjoy life without it.

here's the amazon address, sorry I just can't do the links properly
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140277633/qid=1108205908/ref=pd_ka_0/026-7601119-5054859}?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21