Yes, it is definitely better if a nursing mother does not smoke.
However, I think most experts agree that breastfeeding by a smoking
mom is still not as risky as formula feeding by a smoking mom.  It
is hard to separate the effects of second-hand smoke which baby is
exposed to regardless of feeding method and the effects that are
strictly related to nicotine in breastmilk.  Simply not smoking in
the vicinity of baby helps, but there is always the residual smoke
in the clothing, furniture, draperies, carpeting, etc.  As a
non-smoker who is extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke, I can tell
you that if I have had a smoker in the house, the smell and
respiratory irritation lingers for some time even if that person
didn't smoke while there!
Encouraging smoking moms to quit or cut down is certainly
praiseworthy.  The Catch-22 is that you don't want to lead a mom to
say, "I know I won't be able to quit (or cut down), so I'd be better
off bottlefeeding."  The trick is in presenting the info strongly
enough to encourage her to at least cut back, but not so strong that
you turn her off to breastfeeding.

Winnie

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