Help!! My sister is breastfeeding and smoking. . . what should I do??

Question

My sister has smoked off and on for the past 5yrs. I kept telling her she was going to get addicted, but she always said she could stop whenever she wanted, but she never would.

A year ago she found out she was pregnant and so she quit. My nephew is now 4 months old, and she just started smoking again. What should I do?? How do I help her quit? Couldn't this hurt her baby?? I'm really worried! Do you have any advice?

Answer 1

smoking around a four month old is really dangerous for his health..tell her to stop if not for her own sake then for her baby..

Answer 2

Because she is smoking and breastfeeding when she stops breast feeding she will probably find that her baby has withdrawl symptoms as someone who smokes would once they quit cold turkey.

Chances are she was already addicted to smoking and just didn't think she was. I have been smoking for 3 years and was addicted within the first 3 months of it.

I have been pregnant twice (miscarried on both) and found it SO hard to quit smoking but I did (they weren't planned). I hadn't smoked for a week after I found out I was pregnant (both times) before I miscarried and I was told that the reason would have been that I was so stressed trying to quit smoking that it caused too much stress to the developing baby that I miscarried.

If she wasn't already smoking why did she start once she had the baby and was still breastfeeding?? It's stupid if you ask me...

I'm quitting before I try for a baby and I will never touch a cigarette again!

Answer 3

Yes this CAN hurt the infant !

I am a psychotherapist with 30+ years experience .

Call up her doctor and have the doctor take care of this .

Heavy smokers have been shown to have decreased milk production, with lower levels of Vitamin C in their milk. Their babies may be at a greater risk for nausea, colic (in one study an increase of 14 percent over non-smokers babies) and diarrhea. Mothers whose infants are also exposed to second hand smoke are at increased risk for allergies, pneumonia, bronchitis and possibly sudden infant death syndrome. Also I believe that the nicotine can have a negative effect on the child's nervous system possibly leading to childhood ADD .

Answer 4

Slap the cig out of her hand.

Answer 5

it's better for the baby of a smoker to be breastfed than to be formula fed.  

http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle...

the baby is going to be exposed to the smoke on her clothes and in her hair and the breastmilk will help protect him from the negative effects.  of course it would be better for everyone if she quit smoking, but if she won't, it's better for her to breastfeed than to formula feed.

Answer 6

It is quite normal for a women to start smokong again after having quite during a pregnancy. Usually the stress of the birth, a new baby makes them start again. Most doctors will encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding if they have started smoking as breast milk/ smoking is still considered better for baby than formulas. However, she must NOT smoke around the baby, and must change her clothes after having a cigarette, as even the lingering smell can be harmful to the baby, and second hand smoke has been associated with an increase risk of SIDS. Tell her to try to smoke AFTER she nurses the baby, as then the baby will not get the full nicotine rush. It is a minimal amount that is passed thru the milk, but still better if she can wait 90 minutes before feeding to smoke. Make sure she always washes her hands, as nicotine gets on fingers and can be toxic to the baby.

Hope that helps.

Answer 7

research the health risks, yes there are plenty, the baby will also become addicted to the nicotine but also risk of SIDS is increased, infact smoking is the only thing that has been proven to be a major factor. if she insists on continuing, tell her to bottle feed and not smoke around the baby, however its still in ur clothes and skin.

Answer 8

Luckily they say that even a mother that smokes is still better to breastfeed then to formula feed! Therefore the babies health is not a concern unless she is smoking near the baby often.

I am a former smoker and quiting is extremely hard, I know that the very best thing friends and family can do though is to stay positive and encourage the smoker to quit. Being angry with her will not help!  

Answer 9

Don't worry about it. It won't hurt the baby.

Answer 10

Here's what Net Wellness, a consumer health info center, says. Hope it helps, And btw, smoking is disgusting and i personally don't think anyone should smoke around kids, let them keep healthy lungs!

Answer 11

Check out this site:  http://www.llli.org/FAQ/smoking.html

I'd be more concerned about the risk of the second hand smoke.  Encourage her to cut back as much as she can.  Support her any way you are able.  And make sure she knows that if she smokes around her child, she is putting her child at risk of illness and death.

It's better not to smoke, but if she is going to smoke anyway, it's better to breastfeed than not, as long as it is less than a pack a day, according to the article above.

Answer 12

First off, it is better to smoke and breastfeed than it is to formula feed. If you ever become a mother, you'll find this out.

Second, you mind your own business. You wouldn't want any telling you what to do with your baby. You don't do it either.  

Answer 13

Well studies show that smoking while breastfeeding is better than not breastfeeding at all. She will be fine. Not much nicotine enters the milk. She should try to quit though. Don't stress. I read it in a breastfeeding book.  

Answer 14

Second hand smoke is the problem.Unless shes holding the baby and smoking theres no problem.Smoking and breastfeeding doesnt affect the baby.It will however change the taste of the breastmilk.As long as the baby doesnt mind its ok.

Answer 15

it can search it up on google.. convince her to stop while shes breastfeeding.  it can hurt the baby in the future.