To think it is wrong to smoke and breastfeed?

[Solesister]

My friend thinks this is ok and I really really don’t! Surely the toxins get into the milk?

Ideally no, you shouldn't smoke while breastfeeding, but overall it is recommended to keep breastfeeding if you smoke. I think the best thing to do would be to keep the house free of smoke, only smoking outside away from baby, not smoking in the car if baby goes in it, etc.

To answer your question YANBU, I would never do it and obviously not smoking while breastfeeding is best.

Well, it's best not to smoke at all, but if you are going to smoke then it's better to breastfeed than formula feed.

I read the thread titles thinking you meant the risk of getting fag ash on the baby's head. 😬

Its not ideal but if the choice is between smoking and breastfeeding or smoking and formula feeding and the mum can breastfeed then she should

Of course the real choice is between smoking or not smoking but I would imagine that might be harder

You don't mean to actually be smoking whilst the babe is on the breast do you?

In which case, yes yabu

Hmmm surely it's not better to breast feed if you're a smoker? Not just because of what gets into the milk but also because of the smell on your skin and hair etc with the baby very close to you.
Surely it would be better to formula feed if you're a smoker!?

That’s what the little dent in their head is for, tapping your ash in.

Obviously it would be better to quit smoking, but as I understand it breastfeeding still confers advantages over formula feeding even if the mother is a smoker. I don’t think I’d want to discourage a woman from breastfeeding on the basis of her cigarette habit.

Yeah it's disgusting, almost as bad as smoking while pregnant.

It's best to wait at least 2 hours before feeding again. Which might be tricky if they feed around the clock. But if a infant sleeps through for long periods, then there's some time for nicotine to get out of system. Then obviously washing hair and changing clothes and not bed sharing. It's all more trouble than it's worth tbh. I went through a phase (very stressful time) where I had 2 a day and only at nap time and after she was in bed, which left plenty of time for it to exit milk. I stopped as soon as I was out of the stressful situation. If a regular, long term smoker, I think it's probably just better to bottle feed rather than go through all the rigmarole.

😂

Not just because of what gets into the milk but also because of the smell on your skin and hair etc with the baby very close to you

Presumably non-breastfeeling smokers aren't bottle feeding at arm's length.

Well it's obviously not the healthiest choice, but I think telling people it's "wrong" isn't going to do your social life any good. It's not the hill I would choose to die on.

But formula feeding mums also hold their babies, so their going to be exposed either way. Breastfeeding still offers health benefits and protects against sids, which is even more important as having a smoking parent is a risk factor.

I'd assume there's very little that gets into the milk, in the same way as it's fine to drink a reasonable amount of alcohol without it affecting the milk. But baby shouldn't be exposed to second hand smoke as that's dangerous.

Surely some things are worthy of judgment. If you have a baby, the very least you can do is stop ingesting toxic chemicals while you grow and feed it?

It's pretty bad to smoke with a small child in the house at all. They are at risk from nicotine picked up from contact with fabrics and surfaces as well as from passive smoking.

If she is not going to quit she should definitely smoke elsewhere (preferably outdoors) and should wear a smoke free top or something while actually feeding.

Reminds me of a bit on Family Guy making fun of Britney Spears.

@FourTeaFallOut not sure how close you can get a bottle fed baby to your skin when feeding..? The whole bottle thing gets in the way of that..

This might be of interest
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/smoking/#:~:text=Smoking%20whilst%20breastfeeding%20is%20not,Nicotine%20is%20found%20in%20breastmilk.

I've bottle fed and breastfed and you nuzzle them in to the crook of your arm in almost the same manner.

What a bizarre post, who holds the baby then?

Of course it’s not ok. Just like breastfeeding and drinking alcohol is not okay.

But the mothers who do it don’t care about their baby as long as they get their fix 🤷‍♀️