Can smoking while breastfeeding hurt the baby?
Babies exposed to smoke via breast-feeding are more susceptible to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the development of allergy-related diseases like asthma. Nicotine present in breast milk can lead to behavioral changes in a baby like crying more than usual.
How long does nicotine stay in breastmilk after smoking?
In fact, nicotine (and its metabolite cotinine) peaks in breast milk 30 minutes after smoking a cigarette, and nicotine’s half-life in breast milk is approximately two hours. This means it’s better to have a cigarette immediately after breastfeeding than directly before nursing if you are going to smoke.
Should I stop breastfeeding if I smoke?
Breastfeeding and cigarette smoke Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby; it is also good for your health. It is better to breastfeed and smoke than not to breastfeed at all. Nicotine passes rapidly into your breast milk and affects how much milk you have.
How much nicotine gets in your breast milk?
Studies indicate that the amount of nicotine found in breast milk is 2.9 times greater than that found in maternal blood plasma( 21 ) and that the amount of cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, present in the urine of infants breastfed by smoking mothers was on average ten times higher than that found in bottle- …
Can babies get nicotine through breastmilk?
In addition to the risks of secondhand smoke for all exposed infants, the chemicals found in tobacco, including nicotine, can be passed from a breastfeeding mother who uses tobacco to her infant through breast milk.
Should I still breastfeed if I smoke?
Using tobacco or e-cigarettes while breastfeeding can allow harmful chemicals to pass from the mother to the infant through breast milk or secondhand smoke exposure.
What happens if nicotine is in breast milk?
Inhaled nicotine enters a mother’s blood through her lungs, and then easily passes into breastmilk. Research shows that nicotine in a mother’s breastmilk can affect infant sleep patterns―raising the risk for blood sugar and thyroid problems that can lead children to become overweight.
Can babies get addicted to nicotine while breastfeeding?
Exposure to high levels of nicotine through breast milk can potentially cause nicotine dependence and nicotine poisoning in babies. The symptoms of nicotine poisoning are rare and occur in babies who are exposed to a lot of smoke.