When the positive pregnancy test arrives, many smokers manage to stop smoking altogether. It is after the baby is born, during the very stressful time of breastfeeding, that it is difficult not to resume. So, can you smoke while breastfeeding? Here are our responses.
We already knew that smoking is harmful, above all for the smoker himself. What has been ignored for many years, however, is the existence passive consumption for those around the smoker, caused by nicotine stuck to their hands and clothes, in particular. The people mainly exposed to this passive consumption are above all children.
When a nursing mother smokes, her baby is particularly at risk. Why ? Because the nicotine (and other harmful substances) contained in cigarettes is also found in breast milk and therefore passes into the body of the child. The question then arises: should smoking mothers forget about breastfeeding? The answer is yes and no.
Transmission through breast milk
Cigarette smoke contains many harmful and carcinogenic substances. These can be transmitted to the child by the air he breathes (that is to say passive smoke), by the clothes and the skin of the smoker, but also and especially, by the mother's milk.
The level of harmful substances in breast milk depends on the amount of cigarettes the mother consumes, as well as the chronological order in which she smokes and breastfeeds her baby. Right after consuming a cigarette, for example, the concentration of nicotine in breast milk is three times higher than in the blood.
Potential risks for the child
Depending on the number of cigarettes the mother smokes per day, more or less severe breastfeeding disorders may occur. Indeed, tobacco consumption not only inhibits secretion of milk, but in ralso reduces the quantity. Studies have shown that mothers who smoke ten cigarettes a day or more face problems with milk production.
Tobacco is also changing the taste of milk for the baby, thus encouraging him to drink less. Other studies have shown that babies of mothers who smoke are regularly more restless, vomit more often, have more colic and gain weight more slowly than babies with mothers who do not smoke. Children from smoking households also suffer more frequently from respiratory illnesses.
The risk of allergy is also higher for children whose mothers smoked and breastfed at the same time.
At this time, it is not possible to accurately determine how breastfeeding and smoking affect a child's future health, especially if they are more likely to develop cancer.
Should you stop smoking completely when breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is considered the best diet that is for an infant. However, if the mother smokes while breastfeeding, the benefits of milk are impaired, and lose potency. With this in mind, science is divided on the extent to which this alteration occurs. The question being: is it more harmful for the baby to be breastfed by a smoker mother or not at all?
One thing is certain, for babies whose mothers smoke a lot, that is, at least ten to fifteen cigarettes a day, the negative effect is markedly increased. Each additional cigarette harms the health of the child more.
Breastfeeding and smoking: recommendations
In order to limit the exposure of the baby breastfed by a smoking mother, some measures can be taken:
- reduce your tobacco consumption, as the harmful effects increase with it
- smoke immediately after feeding rather than before or during (the amount of nicotine the baby receives is up to ten times stronger if the mother smoked just before breastfeeding)
- if possible, wait two hours after smoking to put the baby to the breast
- smoke outside the baby's presence
Note that the best solution is, however, complete smoking cessation during breastfeeding. It is quite possible to use nicotine substitutes during this period, which themselves are not contraindicated. They are even largely preferable cigarettes.
To counterbalance the harmful effects of passive smoking on her baby, a mother who smokes should prolong breastfeeding as long as possible, in order to pass on the benefits still present in her milk.
For more information, go to the stop-tabac website.
Important note : The information in this article is provided for information only and is not intended to replace a diagnosis made by a doctor. If you have any doubts, urgent questions or complaints, please consult your doctor.