Have there not been studies demonstrating that the sense that brings
memories up most quickly and completely is the sense of smell?  I know that
there are some memories of my very early childhood that I can trigger (the
feelings, the vision, etc.) by just remembering the smell - in my case
(horror of horrors) my grandmother used to kill the chickens in the back
yard then burn off the final feathers on the kitchen stove (outdoors -
remember this is rural Puerto Rico in the late 40's and early 50's).  The
memory comes back completely - with the large church bell clanging outside
my window on Sunday mornings, the talking in the background in Spanish and
my Dad's accented Spanish trying to talk to my grandparents.  Even the high
bed I used to sleep in - and had to be VERY careful when I climbed down...

My point is - to bring it to breastfeeding - that what mom smells like - as
well as tastes like - has to be a very strong reminder for us.  So if mom
not only smelled (for bottle feeders) but also tasted (for breastfeeders)
like cigarettes - would that not bring them to connect the smell of
cigarettes and the feeling that nicotine gives us with love, comfort, etc? 
How many little girls put on mom's perfume?  How many of us don't cook that
Pumpkin Pie or asopao (chicken soup - or literally "soup-y chicken", as it
is thicker than soup) because of the feeling of "comfort" they bring?

Another good reason why moms should not smoke!  This is not to say she
cannot breastfeed and smoke - after all, we know the benefits are greater
than the risks - but the risks also include raising a child who will be a
smoker...

Jeanette Panchula, BA-SW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL
Vacaville, CA
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