Breastfeeding while smoking

[JW1226]

Hi all,

Id like opinions on breastfeeding while being a cigarette smoker,

Is it best to formula feed if a mum is struggling with stopping smoking or is breast still best?

Thankyou in advance

Xx

Could you possibly give up while your breastfeeding?

This link might be useful to your question [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/breastfeeding-and-smoking/#e-cigarettes-vaping-and-breastfeeding]

I smoke and breastfed. But you have to be extra careful so I wore a hat and had clothes I would change into while I smoked. Then came in took it all off washed my hands and brushed my teeth. Makes you cut down for sure 😂

You generally would still cradle your baby and hold them close to bottle feed so would need to take similar precautions if smoking. I don’t think this is solely a breastfeeding issue.

@BertramKibbler

I mean if the nicotine goes into the milk supply would formula be the better option over the breast milk ? I am fully aware that breast milk without nicotine is the best but for someone struggling to stop smoking what is better formula or the breast milk of a smoker?

@NotSoThinLizzy

I have been doing the same!
I've been mixed feeding breast and formula however I'm struggling to stop the smoking id love to fully breast feed however I'm unsure of the negative effects of it there is so much conflicting advice!

Thankyou for being honest not many people are these days lol! X

@gimeallthecake
I have been trying clearly not hard enough i have managed to cut down some days and then others days are really hard. I read into nicotine replacement therapy but then the nicotine still enters the supply so I'd like to go cold turkey it's just that will power I guess I lack x

Did you manage to quit for pregnancy? Could you not try again?

@LexieLulu I have been trying to give up I just can't seem to do it without "help" I used a vape before but I'd like to not have an addiction all together so would like to go cold turkey without having the replacement therapy / patches or what not.

Seems easy " just don't light one up " but I literally can't fight the crave at the moment x

It’s not just nicotine, OP. There are 400 toxic and cancer causing chemicals in cigarettes, many of which pass into breast milk.
Your lungs have the internal surface area of a tennis court - they’re fabulously efficient at absorbing anything you breathe in and distributing it right through your body. That’s why smoking causes so many other cancers, like kidney and bladder cancer, as well as the obvious lung cancer.
Why do you want to give your baby a cocktail of poison? Isn’t your child a good enough reason to stop smoking?

@Babdoc Thankyou for being so blunt and honest it's seriously what I need! I'm around smokers (not smoking in the house) so I'm really struggling to just ignore that crave it sounds terrible but I'm always looking for the opportunity to have a cigarette, I need to change my mind set massively so any ideas or tips how to do that I'd greatly appreciate.
I'm not making excuses but it's because I'm highly stressed (not baby related) and unfortunately found relief in smoking so also if you know any better ways to manage stress I'd be grateful for those too! X

OP this must be very hard but I suggest you look into some leaflets and info on cigarettes and babies.

I have a very damaged relationship with my mum because she was a smoker and I ended up with health issues, I dont want that for you OP 💙💙💙

I know it must be hard, but...

It's up to you what you do but the fact you are posting on this means you care. I understand it can be hard to give up (ex smoker here). Please consider vaping. At least while your baby is so little. There are links between second hand smoking and cot death and fumes linger in your lungs long after smoking. Use this as the incentive to change your habits.

Could you speak with your gp about safe ways of quitting? I used chanpex to quit but I don't think it's safe while breastfeeding so wouldn't recommend that right now. But your gp might have other helpful strategies.

Possibly finding something else to replace the habit could help like chewing gum or a stress ball when you feel a craving coming on. Have you read the Allan Carr book to stop smoking? Heard it's helped loads of people.

OP, I do sympathise. Sorry about being blunt in my previous post, but I wanted to spell out the risks to you as well as your baby.
A lot of people use cigarettes as a coping mechanism for stress, but there are much safer and better ways to manage it.
You could start by switching to nicotine patches, so you are only exposing yourself and baby to one toxin instead of hundreds.
Second, you could look online for resources to help you with stress and anxiety - there are lots that use cognitive therapy and relaxation techniques.
You could also see your GP - many practices have an attached counsellor who could be helpful, although waiting times may be too long (your baby might be weaned by the time you got an appointment!)
A private counsellor may be helpful if you can afford it.
The other thing is to love and value yourself, apart from as a mother. Have some treats and some “me time” - something soothing and restorative, that calms and relaxes you. It could be something simple like a long soak in the bath, or listening to favourite music, or a country walk.
I hope you manage to kick the cigarettes for your own sake as well as your baby’s. Start loving your body and treating it well - its the only one you have, and you want it to last! God bless, OP.

If you're stressed with a newborn be careful quitting! This will be a very hard time for you you.

Try vaping again maybe?

@LexieLulu I will try the vaping, I was hoping to not replace one addiction with another however I think vaping will be the best route for me for now - I done it before I can do it again! I am a single mum of three kids the cigarette was my 2-5 mins me time lol! X

@Babdoc no reason to be sorry I respect brutal honesty and I can't argue with what your saying I want and need to hear it I managed to cut down massively yesterday I managed not to have one for 8-9 hours so it is possible I felt very guilty after having one after going that long I can do this ! X

Good luck OP I think you can do it you seem determined. I know the vaping is addictive too but so much cleaner. Then you can still have your me time break.

breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/dibm/smoking%2C%20smoking%20cessation%20and%20breastfeeding.pdf

Stopping smoking would be ideal, but if you can't stop at the moment it's still beneficial to breastfeed.

The current advice is that the benefits of breastfeeding are so many that it's better for a smoker to still bf rather than bottle feed.
This does not mean that breast feeding negates the dangers to the baby of the mother smoking, nor does it mean the mother can /should continue to smoke.

I imagine your life must be very difficult if you are smoking with a small baby and other kids but really you should stop. Get professional help. Tell your hv or gp. It might be embarrassing to tell them but they probably can smell it off you, and it's better to suffer a small bit of shame for the help to quit. And although smoking is bad, some mothers are heroin addicts etc so they will have seen worse.

Well done on your long stretch yesterday. Keep it up

OP only read this if you think some really awful mind imagery would help you.........,

I gave up in early pregnancy by thinking about my baby having to watch me die of lung cancer. I imagined in as much detail as I could what that would be like for a young child and her going through life knowing I could have prevented it and stayed with her. It makes me feel sick to imagine it and bloody worked!!!