Breastfeeding and smoking yes or no?

[shakirashakira]

I don't smoke, just curious really as thanks to Mumsnet I've seen a lot of the daily mail online lately.

Pictures of Holly Willoughby, Charlotte Church and another young celeb mum (can't remember who) smoking at festivals and all the nasty comments made me think - is smoking and breastfeeding a no-no?

I know all about how much alcohol is ok! And obv there's a SIDS risk if any parent smokes, but does nicotine get into BM too?

I think it's a no-no. Nicotine does get into breast milk.

A friend of mine smoked whilst breast feeding and she would smoke straight after big feed and hope the little one wouldn't want any more for a good few hours. I thought it was a bit sad for her little one.

Yes, there are effects on the breastmilk of smoking, but smoking and bf is better for the baby than formula feeding and smoking.

The baby of a mother who smokes and who formula feeds misses out on the protection against some of the ill effects of having a smoking parent.

www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/smoking.html gives more info with refs.

My understanding is that smoking is to be avoided when breastfeeding (as ever). But that if you do smoke it is not a reason not to breastfeed.

Some nicotine will be in your bloodstream and therefore breastmilk, but I believe the widely held view is that the advantages of breastfeeding still outweigh the disadvantages of not breastfeeding.

Obviously if you do smoke you should never, ever co sleep!

I agree with TT

Agree with tiktok - there are a number of studies on this. BF + smoking better than FF + smoking.

Brilliant, that's good to know.

Not for personal reasons as I say, but it's interesting that BM can mitigate some of the effects of smoking.

I don't understand why someone would start smoking again after you have just had your baby?

You would stink of smoke, the baby would stink of smoke from when you hold it ...

Perhaps they didn't quit when they were pregnant?

there are lots of reasons why a new mum may still smoke or pick up smoking again.

A big no-no. Apart from all the chemicals getting into your milk, second-hand smoke, with all its carcinogens, is bad for everyone around the smoker, including the baby. Breastmilk is not going to cancel out everything unhealthy in the environment; it's not magic.

obviously not all smokers would smoke inside the house though...

Watch out - bomb alert.

I am just interested but is BF with smoking better than FF without smoking. Just interested as a particularly judgmental friend had a lot to say about my parenting choices.

it would mean co-sleeping was out too, if that was an issue.

not that simple

effects are different and risks are not directly comparable

like asking is it better for an adult to eat a healthy diet and smoke or to eat an appalling junk-laden diet and not smoke
(NB I AM NOT COMPARING BF/FORMULA TO ADULT DIETS)

I see what your saying Mrs B.

Plus, there is the increased possibility of the child smoking if they have smoking parents.

I am smoking and bf currently but not something I am proud of at all and I am giving up again on Monday. (I never smoke in the house or around children at all and I gave up during pregancy)
This is something I have done a bit of reading on and what I have discovered is;

Nicotine is the only componant of tobacco smoke that enters breastmilk (in v small quantities) so no tar carbon monoxide no other chemicals etc.

Levels of nicotine in milk peak at 30 minutes after smoking so try to smoke if you have to straight after a feed.

babies of mothers who smoke and brestfeed have shorter daytime naps and tend to sleep for shorter periods at night too (a good incentive to give up if ever i heard one!)

It is unsafe to co-sleep if you smoke, even if you don't smoke in the house as the levels of carbon monoxide in your exhaled breath are higher after smoking and this increases the risk of sids.

Even if you smoked 60 fags a day breastfeeding would still be better for your baby and you than formular feeding.

hth

On the smoking thing, I've seen more girls smoking whilst pregnant this year than ever before, perhaps it's because I was pregnant myself and you tend to notice others like you - but I am still shocked.

BF and smoking - the thought of it makes me feel kinda yucky.

thanks for your opinion cfc, smoking is 'kinda yucky' It's also a highly addictive drug that people have to battle to give up.

You're welcome FMF.