I do think that it is better to breastfeed and smoke than not to breastfeed at all. The withdrawal symptoms that babies suffer after birth are distressing. Breast milk that supplies nicotine can ease these symptoms for the baby.
I find it interesting that mothers who smoke throughout their pregnancy suddenly feel that they cannot breastfeed because 'its bad for the baby' despite the poor child having all the nicotine etc forced on it during the previous nine months.
Julie Taylor RN IBCLC
Angie Howald <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi, my name is Angie Howald and I'm a nursing student at Ivy Tech in
Indianapolis, IN. A topic that is of major concern to me is, mothers who
smoke cigarettes and breastfeed. Many quit smoking while pregnant, but take back
the habit as soon as baby is delivered. Stop-Smoking-Tips.com states that if
a mother consumes less than 15 cigarettes each day, the risk to her baby from
transmitted nicotine in breast milk is quite small. However, as the number
goes up, more nicotine is transmitted through breast milk.
The baby might have problems like diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting.
Nicotine takes about 95 minutes to be eliminated from the body and breast
milk. For this reason, it's imperative that the mother avoid smoking right
before feeding. I believe that not all women will abide by this rule. Nicotine can
change a mother's milk supply by more than 100ml. Even if baby demands the
milk, the mother's body may not be able to respond because of effects of
smoking. Nicotine decreased prolactin in the bloodstream. A smoking mother's
calorie supply may be low, which makes it more difficult to produce milk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a baby be breastfed
for the first 12 months of life to reap all the benefits. Babies of mothers
who smoke and breastfeed are three times more likely to wean by 6-9 months.
Smoking is a risk factor for SIDS and respiratory problems, as it reduces
baby's resistance to them. It is states that it is always better to smoke
following a feeding as the blood and milk levels have less tobacco chemicals. Smoking
in the vicinity of infants and children at all is harmful. Respiratory
illnesses, lacking immune systems and incidence of cancer are higher for smokers
and those who are usually around cigarette smoke than they are for nonsmokers.
The baby's urine levels may contain cotinine, which is a product of nicotine.
It is stated that, although formula milk doesn't have such chemicals, it must
be remembered that formula milk doesn't have living cells and other germ
killing chemicals that help in protecting babies against illness. Formula milk,
as opposed to breast milk, doesn't have nutrients that help with the brain's
developments and with hormones needed to assist digestion and immunity.
I have also read that if a woman decides to smoke and bottle feed, it
has been shown that the baby will be at a higher risk for illness, allergies
and asthma throughout childhood. My question to professionals is, whether you
agree that smoking and breastfeeding is better for the baby, rather than
weaning early or not breastfeeding at all? Thank you for your time...Angie Howald
ITSN
References:
Hartwell, Eric. Smoking and Breastfeeding. Retrieved September 30, 2007,
from
Ezine Articles. Web Site:
http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Smoking-and-Breastfeeding&id=464047
Stepans, Wilkerson N. Physiologic Effects of Maternal Smoking on
Breast-feeding
Infants. J Am Academy of Nurse Practioners. 1993 May-June; 5 (3):
105-3.
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