Smoking and breastfeeding?

Question

I have a beautiful 3 week baby gal. i am doing everything i can to protect her as she is my life. the selfish thing though is that i am quitting smoking and did go cold turkey but couldnt so i have cut down to about 7 smokes only through the day. I smoke outside and wont breastfeed for 3-4 hours after smoking. Am i putting my babies life in jeaopardy. I am trying so hard, I know its selfish but im trying. I cant loose her. she is the answer to my prayers. thankyou for your help

Answer 1

Here is what you do:  Look at that beautiful, precious, helpless baby everytime you want to puff on a cigarette.  Think to yourself, everything that you put into your mouth, you are putting into her body.  She is relying on you for everything.  Yes, it is selfish, and if you need help to quit, talk to your doctor.  My sister smoked until she got pregnant.  After she saw that little heartbeat on the ultrasound, she quit.  It is a matter of will.  You can do it and you need to constantly tell yourself that.  Make sure you check with your doctor about how quitting affects your body, like your sugar levels, so that you can have an easier time.  You wouldn't deliberately put poisen into your baby's mouth, but when you smoke and give her milk, that is exactly what you are doing.  

Answer 2

i asked this question too..

you can go to this link to see some of the answers..

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 3

It's hard to quit trust me I know i quit 2 1/2 YEARS ago and STILL crave them just make sure you never smoke around her and wash your hands and maybe even wear a "smoking jacket" when you go outside for the smoke on your shirt can possibly harm her congrats on your little mirricle your in for a real treat!!  

Answer 4

The danger of a smoking parent comes mostly from the second hand smoke in your clothes, hair, skin, etc.  A parent being a smoker raises your childs risks with out regards to how you feed your baby.  Breastfeeding actually counteracts some of the risks.  It is highly advised that if a mother smokes she continues to breastfeed.  Formula comes with it's own set of risks, no need to compound them with the second hand smoke risks.  

I'm certainly not judging you!!  Smoking is an ADDICTION.  I wish you great luck in your effort to fight it.

If you need some evidence to support my advice:

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

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/smoking.html

Answer 5

Don't be so hard on yourself, Mommy!  You're doing a wonderful thing.  Many moms who smoke don't have any desire to quit, they don't see anything harmful about it.

Definitely go outside to smoke, preferably with something on over your clothes so you can remove it when you go back inside.  Wash your hands really well after smoking, and try to feed immediately before a smoke so that by the time she's ready to feed again, the nicotine will be minimized in your breastmilk.

It's still healthier to smoke and breastfeed than to NOT smoke and formula feed.  You're doing great.  Keep up the good work!

Answer 6

I honestly don't think that you are hurting her.  Make sure you wash your hands before you touch her and what ever you do don't smoke in the house around her.  

Answer 7

I've read and researched so much on breastfeeding during the past 10 months of nursing my daughter. The info I've come across says that although you should try to quit smoking, just don't stop nursing. It's apparently better to nurse her and try to quit, than to give her formula. I would keep the pediatrician as well as your own doctor informed and get all the support you can! Congratulations and happy nursing! Continue to think about how great you'll feel knowing that you giving her the best you can and don't lose sight of that goal. Just don't quit nursing her; you can do it!!!!

Answer 8

in my opinion it would be better if you didnt the smell afterwords its so powerful and stays in your hands and clothes but breastfeeding is so important try not to stop breastfeeding and i found this site for you to read.

Answer 9

Its much better to breastfeed and smoke than not to breastfeed at all. Your baby will be at less risk for respiratory infections than a mother who smokes and bottle feeds.You sound like you are doing a great job though, you have cut down a lot and by waiting to nurse after a cigarette, the baby is exposed to little to no nicotine. According to LLL, " if the mother smokes fewer than twenty cigarettes a day, the risks to her baby from the nicotine in her milk are small. " and after the amount of time you describe, the nicotine will have left your system. Just make sure you wash your hands and change your shirt after your smoke, and before you handle your daughter. You might want to keep a sweatshirt or something by the door you can throw on when you go out to keep as much smoke off your clothes as possible. As long as you are smoking outside and protecting your baby from second hand smoke, you are in no way at all even close to putting her life in any kind of danger. You are doing the healthiest and best thing for her by breastfeeding and cutting down on the cigarettes. You sound like a great mommy and I wish you luck in your efforts to quit. I know it can be really hard. Congrats on your new little angel!!  

Answer 10

First of all, breastfeeding has been found to actually help *protect* babies from the effects of their mother's smoking. So keep that up!

Second, it takes about 95 minutes for half of the nicotine to leave your system, so you're doing good on making sure you don't BF for 3-4 hours after smoking and of course making sure you do it outside.

Third, take it easy on yourself! Women smoked for a looong time before they started advising against it, and there were still plenty of healthy babies. Those who would be down on you for smoking despite your best efforts usually are those who have no idea how hard it really is for a smoker (especially one that's been doing it for a long time) to quit. Add that in with the stress of having a new baby and you have a difficult mountain to climb indeed.

Something you may want to try is asking your doctor about getting on Wellbutrin. It's an anti-depressant that is often prescribed for smokers who want to quit due to the fact one of its side effects is taking the pleasure out of smoking. And its anti-depressant qualities may help take away any baby blues you are experiencing, which also makes it easier to quit. It's safe for breastfeeding, as well.