Smoking And Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding and smoking

If you are not going to stop smoking, it doesn’t mean that you should stop breastfeeding. Breastfeeding still has too many benefits that outweigh the negative effects of the cigarette smoke. (Read all the benefits of breastfeeding) It is still better to be smoking and breastfeeding than to smoke and formula feed. Of course it would be best to try and quit, but many moms will find it very hard to make that decision and actually quit. Breastfeeding protects baby against repertory problems that can arise from inhaling secondhand smoke.

“Marijuana” weed and breastfeeding discussed below.

Things you can do if you are smoking and breastfeeding

- Try to smoke away from baby, as the secondhand smoke is even more harmful than the smoke that you are taking in.

- You should try decreasing the amount of cigarettes you smoke daily. At least less than 20 cigarettes per day.

- You can smoke an hour before a feeding and not just before a feeding as it takes 95 minutes for half of the nicotine to be eliminated from your system.

- Breastfeeding while smoking should be avoided completely, try smoking after a feeding and away from baby

- Smoke outside your home or ventilate your home frequently

What are the risks of smoking and breast feeding?

- Smoking while breastfeeding can reduce your breast milk supply

- Baby may have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, colic (abdominal cramps) and diarrhea.

- Smoking and breastfeeding can inhibit milk-let down

- Smoking is linked to early weaning

- Iodine deficiency which can cause a thyroid infection

- Smoking and breastfeeding can develop sleeping problems in baby

- Baby’s ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals are compromised

“secondhand smoke”

- Bronchitis

- Pneumonia

- Increased chance of SIDS

- Ear infections

- Children are more likely to smoke one day

- Doubles your child’s risk of lung cancer

- Stunted and delayed development

- Sinus infections

What if you want to quit smoking?

- First you need to make that decision, are you really prepared to stop?

Here is an online program you can check out that help people that want to quit smoking

Quit Smoking Today.

The Quit Smoking Today program is without doubt the easiest way available to kick those evil cancer sticks out of your life for good. It eradicates the usual problems that are associated with quitting smoking such as cravings, short temper, hunger and weight gain. Quit Smoking Today is so successful because it overcomes your desire to light up.

Other ways of quitting

- Nicotine patches used after feedings

- Nicotine gums and lozenges used after feedings

- Alternative stress relieving measures

Smoking and breastfeeding ~Interesting fact~ never smoke and use nicotine patches at the same time if you are breastfeeding as the nicotine patches contain “nicotine” too!

Smoking marijuana while breastfeeding or smoking pot while breastfeeding?

- Marijuana also called “pot”, “weed” and “cannabis” is the most commonly used illegal drug used today.

- Mothers who use cocaine, heroine or PCP should not breastfeed as baby can have serious side-effects and even die.

- Moms that cannot quit smoking marijuana can continue to breastfeed as long as they do not expose baby to the secondhand smoke.

Risks of smoking marijuana and breastfeeding “smoking weed while breastfeeding”

- When breast feeding smoking marijuana can cause low milk production

- Baby will show signs of sedation, weakness and lack of appetite

- High risk of SIDS “cot death”

- One of the biggest marijuana risks are damage to brain cells and genetic material

Other pages on “breastfeeding problems” in connection to smoking pot and breastfeeding “cannabis breastfeeding”

Relax during breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding stories

Alcohol and breastfeeding

Caffeine and breastfeeding

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