Daily Health Minute - Smoking While Breast-Feeding
01/04/01
Nicotine can get into the breast milk of a smoking mother. It can decrease the quantity of milk, as well as affect the breast milk's quality and the ease of feeding. In addition, studies confirm that babies exposed to tobacco through breast milk have high
Health risks to the baby from tobaccosmoke include a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome and of wheezing bronchitis or asthma. These risks are higher if the baby is breast-fed by a smoking mother rather than just exposed to smoke in the household. Environmental or second-hand smoke also increases the risk of developing lung cancer in the future.
The bottom line: Do not smoke while breast-feeding. Make this an excellent opportunity to quit for good.