newman wrote:

> There are several studies which suggest that infants who are breastfed
> and whose mothers smoke are *healthier* than infants who are bottle fed
> and whose mothers smoke.

I cut and pasted an small bit from my notes on this subject (I am preparing
for a presentation titled "Substances in Breastmilk").  Hope this is
useful.  My references are listed below."Not recommended at any time, but
must weigh the risks/benefits of some nicotine exposure versus breastmilk.
Formula fed infants in homes of smokers still excrete nicotine and other
by-products in their urine.  Formula feeding does not prevent nicotine
exposure of infants. There is higher incidence of nicotine absorption from
the respiratory tract than from the milk (less than 5% of the average daily
adult dose).  (1)

Cadmium (heavy metal) concentrations in milk of smokers are higher than in
milk of non-smokers.  However, cadmium exposure of breastfed infants
(smoking or non-smoking mothers) is below the exposure of formula fed
infants, or the WHO recommended weekly intake level. (2)"

(1) Lawrence RA 1997  A Review of the Medical Benefits and Contraindications
to Breastfeeding in the United States.  Arlington, VA: National Center for
Education in Maternal and Child Health

(2) Radisch B, Luck W, Nau H  1987.  Cadmium concentrations in milk and
blood in blood of smoking mothers.  Toxicol Lett  36(2): 147-152.

--
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Kathy Koch, BSEd, IBCLC
LLL Leader, AAPL
mailto:[log in to unmask]          Great Mills, MD, USA
"Within the child lies the fate of the future."   Maria Montessori
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