To smoke an electronic cigarette whilst breastfeeding

[Namechangedforthisohyesidid]

Just that really. I can go the hours between feeds?

Are you not meant to do that? No idea if it affects BFing. Does seem a shame to take smoking back up again if you gave up during pregnancy.

You would be giving your baby nicotine thats in your system. Then when you stop breastfeeding you will put your baby into nicotine withdrawal. You know what nicotine withdrawal is like. Would you like your baby to go through that? Its a tiny proportion of your life to stop something that is unhealthy to benefit the health of your baby. So, YABU.

You could by 0% nicotine ejuice?

better than actual smoking but even better to do it between feeds

However, if the alternative is smoking a real fag, yanbu. Also, I think it is only a tiny tiny amount that would get to baby. Weighing up the many, many benefits of bf against that, I think most health professionals would say bf even while taking nicotine replacement therapies.

They say it's better for a smoker to smoke and breastfeed than not to breastfeed at all, so I should think the same applies to e-cigs. Whether it's more harmful to puff on the e-cig while the baby's actually feeding than to have a fag just before a feed I couldn't say, but I'd guess not as bad. I don't know how much nicotine gets into milk, but if it's comparable to other things getting into milk, e.g alcohol, then probably a tiny fraction. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but it's probably not terrible, bearing in mind the baby will be getting nicotine either way.

Interesting question. Would that mean you shouldn't breastfeed if wearing a nicotine patch?

Based on memory, nicotine goes into your blood quickly. Better to vape just after a feed, rather than during. And yes, breastfeeding and smoking is deffo better than not breastfeeding.

in my experience as a health care professional, it is rare to see women who both smoke and breast feed

just saying

Blow some exhaled vapor onto a cleaned smooth surface a few times, then take a clean oil free finger and wipe along where you exhaled the vapor.

See the result? Yep, that's in your lungs.

I am not trying to scare you, I want you to be informed, that is broken down by your body, but you should never be under the impression that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking, it is not.

www.discountvapers.com/risks/

Is it seriously better to smoke and breastfeed than to not breastfeed?

What about the second hand smoke?

Is your concern the nicotine getting into the baby or is it the "smoking" (vaping?) while you feed that's worrying you?

I think others have answered about the nicotine aspect, but personally I would be worried about the baby breathing in the vapour you exhale. I don't think e-fags have been around long enough for any conclusions to be drawn on harm from breathing in the vapour. Anecdotally I can tell you that when my ExH vaped, our cats fled from the vapour and I hated the idea of him vaping inside near the cats. I'd be even more concerned about a baby.

I don't mean at the same time but actually, kate moose, you are totally right, why would I make my baby feel like he wants a cigarette.

I won't.

Thank you for the quick resolution.

And people wonder why breastfeeding rates are so low in this country... The proportion of nicotine in breastmilk is very low. I appear to have survived being breastfed by a smoker without being particularly traumatised, and so did SIL. None of the parents mention weaning being terribly difficult.

www.lalecheleague.org/faq/smoking.html

The half-life of nicotine (the amount of time it takes for half the nicotine to be eliminated from the body) is ninety-five minutes. For this reason, a mother should avoid smoking just before and certainly during a feeding.

So, after 3 and a half hours, the level of nicotine will be quartered.

Moomin we're talking about an electronic cigarette her. And yes, if a baby lives in a smoking household, the effects of second-hand smoke mean that the benefits of breast-feeding are more necessary, not less.

Queen I know the thread is about vaping, but others were saying that it's better to smoke and breastfeed, so I didn't know if they meant proper cigarettes.

Ahh I get you - I thought the comparison was between someone who smokes and breastfeeds, and someone who does neither. I understand it now, breastfeeding would be more important in someone who smokes :)

Ah, I see why you asking now. Sorry for the confusion.

Congratulations on your baby, I hope you really enjoy his babyhood .

Thank you and thank you for what you said. I got one out earlier and tried smoking it but it was a dud which I think might be the universe trying to tell me something. Will wait until I have finished feeding before I do it. Thank you for the well needed and well said little slap round the face. Of course I don't want my baby to have nicotine withdrawal xxx

Ah, we all need it sometimes .

You can use NRT while Breastfeeding. Vaping will not carry any extra risks for your baby (although obviously not wise while actually feeding or holding the baby). Either of these is a massively better option than smoking, both for you and your baby.

The trouble with scaremongering over ecigs is that people are misled into believing that there is no benefit in switching to vaping if they are unable to give up. This actually costs lives.

This is arse gravy:

Blow some exhaled vapor onto a cleaned smooth surface a few times, then take a clean oil free finger and wipe along where you exhaled the vapor.

See the result? Yep, that's in your lungs.

I am not trying to scare you, I want you to be informed, that is broken down by your body, but you should never be under the impression that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking, it is not.

You can try this experiment for hours and hours - there is no residue.

If you want decent info on the risks and benefits of vaping this is a good place to start. You can access the whole paper for free if you create an account. Vaping is not risk-free (nothing is) but it is orders of magnitude safer than smoking.

If you would prefer to play it very safe and go cold turkey that's great. If, however, you find you are not coping with the cravings and are about to have a fag, don't worry about using the ecig. Come over to the stop smoking section and we'll help you find one that works. Actually, come over anyway, you'll get lots of support and no judgement, whatever method you are using

Have up smoking years ago but started vaping a year ago. Didn't cape through pregnancy but fancy it now!!!!

Well if you are going to relapse to something, better it's vaping than smoking.

It would be a shame to start again if you have kicked the habit but whatever you do, don't think you have to stop BF before you can have a vape, if that meant you didn't BF for as long as you wanted.