Smoking and Breastfeeding

Hi,
I totally know what you are going through as my dd is 5 months old and about a month ago I started smoking again after quitting cold turkey when I was pregnant. I am also breatfeeding and as a result of my starting to smoke my daughter stopped sleeping through the night and became aggitated and fussy throughout the day. I went to my peditrician and they told me that she was somewhat adddicted to the nicotine and that I needed to stop now and everything would go back to the way it was. She still isnt sleeping through the night again(she got used to nursing through the night and now wants to every night) but she is not fussy anymore and is back to being the happy baby she used to be. After they told me that I stopped smoking and never looked back knowing that it was still directly harming daughter as it would have in utero made me instantly want to stop. I know its easier said then done but you can do it!!! Good luck!!!

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I don't know if your motivation is strong enough but I will give you some very scary facts. Your baby is WAY more likely to die of SIDS if you keep up this habit. Also, allergies, asthma and a slew more of things are connected with smokers, breastfeeding or not. In fact, the milk atleast has the potential to protect your baby but you are infusing it with poison. Why would you do that?! I am being harsh because you asked for the facts. Smoking is a horrible habit, as you are aware of, and it is absolute poison to your baby, in utero or not. I would say, go to your lactation consultant or find one. Go to your doctor and get support for this. Whatever you have to do to protect the life of your child. Good luck and you CAN do this!

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I'm not and never have been a smoker, so while I can sit here and make suggestions I do realize that it is easier said than done. My mom was a smoker for 20 years and just up and quit cold turkey one day. 20 years after she quit, she still died of lung cancer that managed to spread to the bones, the lymph nodes, then everywhere else. It was HORRIBLE to witness her death.

I think it is wonderful that you acknowledge that you have a problem. Many people think that concept is harsh, but I'm sorry...smoking is a problem and an addiction. Fortunately for you, you realize that you need to take care of it. If you can't do it for your own health then do it for the sake of the baby.

You need to make a choice as to what is more important - giving your child the best possible chance to grow up healthy or giving in to your craving and addiction. Even if you chose not to breastfeed your baby and went to formula, you are still potentially poisoning your child by smoking around her. Second-hand smoke is just as dangerous and at least when you smoke, you get a filter - your baby does not.

Right now, you are putting your child at risk for SIDS and disrupted sleep patterns (so important they get their sleep for proper growth and development). There are also studies that indicate that children of parents who smoke potentially have a higher tendency to smoke and use other drugs, particularly marijuana.

There are so many resources out there - American Cancer Society, WebMd, etc. Please find one and get the help you need. Throw away anything related to cigarettes and cigarette smoking (all cigs, lighters, matches, ashtrays, etc.) You will have hard days but you can do it! The next time you light up, think of your beautiful baby's face and ask yourself "Is this really worth it"?

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I am not a smoker but I have close family members who are and I did a lot of research when I had my first. If my relatives wanted to come over and visit, I asked that they didn't smoke before they came over because if there is a smell of smoke in their clothes the baby can inhale it and it is still harmful.
That is great that you quit while you were pregnant! Now just try and keep it up!!

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I just wanted to say congrats on the birth of your baby and also good for you for reaching out to this site. I think the very act of doing so was an act of love for your baby because I can tell by reading your post that you don't want to be a smoker. You control your destiny on the decisions that you make for your health and without even knowing you I feel like you already know that you have made the decision to resist the tempation to pick up an old habit. I am a former smoker and honestly, if it weren't harmful to my health and those around me I'd still be lighting up. One thing that helps me stay away is telling meself that when I'm 75 I shall start again and I will sip mimosas on my porch and smoke to my heart's desire. Hopefully science will have created a "safe" cigarette by then!

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