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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Is a bf baby with a mother who smokes ,better off than one who is not bf at all?

135 replies

princessmel · 28/01/2007 11:16

I've been wondering that for a while.

A friend of a friend has just had a baby (last week)and she's bf. She also smokes.

Do you think that the benefits of breast feeding outweigh the fact that she smokes? She was smoking outside by the way.

I genuinly don't know the answer to this. Also does the smoke get into the milk?
I know she will be breathing smoke onto and around him when she comes back inside but will the chemicals actually be in the milk?

I don't want to cause a huge row but just wondered which would be best for the little baby.

OP posts:
moondog · 28/01/2007 19:30

It's a question of degree I think and where to draw the line is tricky.
I am merely saying that I can't in any way see what harm the odd fag,taken on a doorstep every couple of days is really doing to a baby.

FioFio · 28/01/2007 19:30

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moondog · 28/01/2007 19:31

Oh legal schmegal!
Wot difference does that make?
Alcohol kills far more people than marijuana (or indeed heroin) ever did or will do.

kama · 28/01/2007 19:36

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Spidermama · 28/01/2007 19:37

Absolutely Moondog.

I was completely t-total for years before having kids, but I had the odd spliff. I used to watch the drinking people tottering about on the dancefloor as if on a listing ship, and going on about how only dangerous loons smoke weed. Yes. Right.

Mind you these days it's all skunk and I reckon that's got to be pretty bad for people.

kama · 28/01/2007 19:39

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bandstand · 28/01/2007 19:42

i never knew the answer to this question, but was too ashamed to ask my hv, though i did both.. when my 3rd screamed on the breast i assumed it was my smoking.. more guilt

Spidermama · 28/01/2007 19:43

I did a bit of skunk too but I found it just too much. It's so much stronger than ordinary weed it just rendered me useless.

I could never smoke weed now I have four kids. The chaos would be too much.

I'm enjoying a glass of wine this evening though even though I'm still bf-ing.

One has to take into account that a happy and calm mother is desirable to a baby which is a mitigating factor.

squishy · 28/01/2007 22:45

Couldn't possibly cope with alcohol and getting up at night

BUT am really really shocked to read some of the opinions/views on formula - what about the people who genuinely can't bf (of which I am one) - am quite disturbed to read these views about how much damage I potentially have done my DD

Greensleeves · 28/01/2007 22:48

I smoked copious, ridiculous, gross amounts of skunk when I was younger . I think my brain must be about half its original size. We're talking skunk for breakfast....

I do miss it a bit. I'd rather have the kids though. Wouldn't touch it now - maybe when they're a bit older and I can go to the odd festival/party without them, but never to the same degree.

Firepile · 28/01/2007 23:32

I'm a bit disturbed by some of the later postings on this thread - the evidence is that she should definitely keep breastfeeeding.

The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the potential harms of transmission of chemicals from tobacco through breastmilk.

That is not to say that there are not serious health risks associated with smoking in pregnancy, and maternal smoking after the baby is born (eg cot death, asthma), but these issues will still exist even if the mother formula feeds. And breastfeeding is protective against some of these risks (eg ear infections).

It's really good that your friend only smokes outside , Princessmel. This will not eliminate risk to her baby, but will reduce it.

As a postscript: There is also some evidence that smoking can reduce the quality of breastmilk, and that mothers who smoke tend to breastfeed for less time than those who don't smoke. But still better to bf if possible.

Spidermama · 28/01/2007 23:37

Greeny I'm glad you said that. ('Skunk for breakfast'). I was being coy.

When I think back I don't understand how I functioned smoking pure skunk spliffs made with big Rizlas. I couldn't even have a puff now without full on glued-to-the-sofa trip.

Greensleeves · 28/01/2007 23:39

I used to make a speciality spliff called a Puffing Billy - it had a girth of about 2 inches and was about 12cm long

Spidermama · 28/01/2007 23:51

Mmm Hmmmmmm.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 28/01/2007 23:59

So, does anyone know where the russian children play then?

Greensleeves · 29/01/2007 00:00

They don't. They're all force-fed vodka smoothies and swaddled in potato sacks.

hunkermunker · 29/01/2007 00:07

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm potato smoothies.

Vodka sacks...

Yum!

I think I'm Russian.

PinkTulips · 29/01/2007 00:07

lol at all the pot-heads

moondog · 29/01/2007 08:26

lol at Puffing Billy.
I can't do spliffs (which I admitted to myself after years of feeling panicky and out of control and kidding myself I was just like heeeeeey,chillin') but i can do copious amounts of Chablis.

Er,VVV I'm not really sure where Russian kids play.The floor is ok,it just has to be in a home where noone wears shoes (public spaces considered too yucky.)

The Turks (where dh works now) do this too.
If you go into a nursery school,you either take your shoes off or wear little plastic bags over your own.
I think it is a great idea.Have been trying to get them to do it in ds's nursery to no avail.

Gemmitygem · 29/01/2007 10:48

gawd, I'm a nightmare after any mood enhancer. even get overexcited after orange squash!

re the floor thing, on reflection I think it's not so much the floor per se, it's the fear of cold (in flats heated to about 28 degrees c in the winter!!) and most of all the sheer terror of 'skvoznyak' (draughts).. my colleagues are all in mohair polo neck sweaters in our boiling office in winter, just don't get it myself..

I'm getting more and more worried about her over-wrapping him for naps etc.. specially cos he's still in the cot death age group. oh well, will just go on about it, or hide his jumpers!

sorry not to have much of an opinion on smoking versus breastfeeding, I would have thought it was better to breasfeed and smoke but better to just try and give up smoking or cut down till after breastfeeding. also, I believe there is some strong correlation between your mother smoking and you smoking in later life.. worth thinking about.

Original poster
princessmel · 29/01/2007 12:15

Hi, Sorry I was out yesterday afternoon so I didn't see all the posts. And before that I was playing Ludo, making cakes and all sorts...

Thanks for all the replies.

I did say in my first post that she smokes outside.

I don't think she should be smoking at all but I just wondered what was best for the baby.
I think most people on here think its better that she's bf even though she's smoking.
I know it will still be on her breath, hair, clothes etc but thats her choice I suppose.

Thank you

OP posts:
bandstand · 29/01/2007 12:18

i dreeamt i was breastfeeding last night! my youngest is 7.

itsmeNDP · 29/01/2007 12:27

My God, I am ASTONISHED that formula feeding is being compared to smoking in the health-risk stakes.

Original poster
princessmel · 29/01/2007 12:30

Not by me.

OP posts:
becaroo · 29/01/2007 17:23

itsme...ditto