Hazards of Smoking during Breastfeeding
Smoking during breastfeeding is harmful to you and to your baby in many ways. It is not safe to smoke when you are breastfeeding. When you smoke during breastfeeding, nicotine and other harmful (toxic) substances pass through your milk to your baby.
When you smoke, your baby is also exposed to cigarette smoke (secondhand smoke) and to surfaces contaminated with the harmful substances in cigarette smoke (thirdhand smoke). The dangers of smoking during breastfeeding apply to using e-cigarettes as well. These also expose your baby to nicotine and other toxic substances.
If you are smoking and breastfeeding, do notstop breastfeeding. Breast milk is still the best food for your baby. Take steps to quit smoking.
How does this affect me?
The effects of smoking are well known. When you smoke, you increase your risk of:
- Early death.
- Cancer.
- Heart disease.
- Lung disease.
- Stroke.
- Eye disease.
- Diabetes.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Osteoporosis.
Smoking also affects your ability to breastfeed successfully. Smoking lowers a chemical messenger (a hormone called prolactin) in your body that is important for stimulating the production of breast milk. Smoking during breastfeeding may lead to:
- Having trouble breastfeeding.
- Stopping breastfeeding early.
- Producing breast milk that smells and tastes like a cigarette.
- Producing breast milk that has a lower fat content.
How does this affect my baby?
When you smoke, nicotine and other toxic substances pass through your breast milk directly to your baby. This can affect the development of your baby’s brain and body. It can also cause:
- Restlessness.
- Increased heart rate.
- Colic.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Difficulty growing.
When you smoke or someone else smokes around your baby, your baby is also exposed to secondhand smoke. The effects of secondhand smoke on babies can include:
- SIDS.
- Ear infections.
- Frequent colds.
- Pneumonia.
- Bronchitis.
- Poor lung development.
- Frequent asthma attacks, if your child has asthma.
When you or other people smoke in your home, toxic substances from smoke can gradually build up in your hair and clothing as well as in fabric on furniture and drapes. Your baby can be exposed to these substances after touching contaminated surfaces (thirdhand smoke exposure). This may be especially risky for babies because babies put their fingers into their mouth often. A baby’s developing brain is also more sensitive to toxins.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- Do notlet anyone smoke in your house.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
If you are still smoking:
- Do notstop breastfeeding.
- Cut back the amount you smoke and continue trying to stop smoking.
- Smoke outside.
- Smoke after you breastfeed your baby, not before.
- Wash your hands and change your clothes before breastfeeding.
Where to find more information
- For information on how to quit smoking, go to the smokefree.govwebsite.
- For more information on how smoking affects breastfeeding, turn to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding
Contact a health care provider if:
- You are smoking while breastfeeding.
- You are struggling to stop smoking.
- You are having trouble breastfeeding.
- Your baby is restless and has trouble sleeping.
- Your baby has a fever, cough, or congestion.
- Your baby is not gaining weight.
Summary
- Smoking when you are breastfeeding is dangerous for you and for your baby.
- Your baby may be affected by nicotine and toxic substances in your breast milk, secondhand smoke, and thirdhand smoke.
- Ask your health care provider for help if you are struggling to stop smoking.
- Do notstop breastfeeding. Stop smoking.
