Smoking While Breastfeeding? (Smoking While Breastfeeding) Let's talk about this!

When you become a mother, you have to think twice about everything you do, both before and after you have a baby. Especially if you are a smoker, you may want to quit smoking during pregnancy and then start again after the baby is born . But before you light up a cigarette while breastfeeding, have you ever thought about how it will affect your milk and your baby? Let's talk about this important topic today.

How does smoking affect breast milk?

The first thing to remember is that breast milk is the best food you can give your baby. Breast milk is not just food. It is full of antibodies that protect your baby from illness, enzymes that help with digestion, and other essential nutrients. Breastfed babies are less likely to get colds, respiratory illnesses, and ear infections. It also boosts their immune system.

Now, look at what happens when you smoke. The nicotine in a cigarette or vape, as well as dangerous chemicals like lead and arsenic, get into your bloodstream and then into your breast milk. This changes the composition of your breast milk, which means its nutritional value. Some studies have found that smoking can even reduce the amount of milk your body produces.

Also, even if you don't smoke near your baby, the toxic particles from that smoke can still get into the air and be inhaled by your baby. We call this 'passive smoking' . This increases the baby's risk of developing diseases like bronchitis and pneumonia as they grow older.

What are the risks of smoking while breastfeeding?

If you smoke while breastfeeding, there are several risks your baby may face. It's important to be aware of these.

What is "Thirdhand Exposure"?

Nicotine doesn't just stay in your lungs. Cigarette smoke and the chemicals in it get deposited on your skin, hair, clothes, chairs, sofas, carpets, and even walls. We call this 'thirdhand exposure' . When a baby touches these things, crawls, or puts them in their mouth, the poison gets into the baby's body. So even if you don't drink near your baby, or go out and drink, you're still at risk.

If you are a smoker, what do you do?

After hearing all this, you might be thinking, "So should I stop breastfeeding?" No. That's a bad decision.

Doctors all agree that the best way to protect your baby is to quit smoking completely. But even if it's difficult for you to do so, don't stop breastfeeding just because you smoke.

However, there are things you can do to minimize the impact on the baby.

• Never smoke near your baby.
• Always smoke outside the home, outdoors. Keep cigarettes, cigars, and vaping devices outside the home.
• Make your home and vehicle a completely "smoke-free zone."
• Before coming home after smoking, change your clothes and wash your hands and mouth thoroughly.
• Most importantly: If you or your partner smokes, never co-sleep with your baby in bed with you ( co-sleeping ). This greatly increases the risk of SIDS.

Other things to keep in mind

Quitting smoking is not easy. It takes help. If you want to break the habit, don't fight it alone.

Be sure to talk to your doctor about this. He or she can advise you on the best course of action for you. You may also be referred to counseling services. There are now smartphone apps and even online programs that can help with this. This journey is easier to navigate when you have the support of family and friends.

Sometimes your doctor will tell you about nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) . This includes nicotine patches or prescription pills. But don't use anything like this without medical advice. Because you're breastfeeding, your doctor will need to decide what's safest for you and your baby.