Nicotine and Breastfeeding
Cigarettes, Smoking, and Their Effect on Your Baby

You know you need to quit the nicotine habit. You’ve heard it all before. Maybe you were able to quit smoking while pregnant, but you’ve slipped back into the habit. Or maybe you never did quit and you want to know just how bad it really is.

Quitting is extremely difficult. Although it is possible to give it up for good, it takes time and help from others. As you work towards that goal, should you feed your baby formula? Is it OK to breastfeed if you continue to smoke? Read on and make that decision for yourself.

PROS of smoking and breastfeeding

1. Smoking makes you feel good, and if you feel good you can be a better mother.

2. If you continued to smoke during pregnancy, quitting too quickly (or “cold turkey”) now could cause your baby to go through withdrawal symptoms such as sleep disturbances, headaches and irritability.

3. It turns out that your baby needs the immunities that only your milk can provide even more if you are smoking (even if you don’t smoke around your baby). Formula can’t provide this extra bit of protection that your baby needs if you are smoking.

4. Nicotine is quickly absorbed into milk, but also leaves quickly. It is on the way out after only 90 minutes.  If you only smoke occasionally, you may be able to minimize your baby's nicotine exposure (which you know is addictive).

CONS of smoking and breastfeeding

1. If your baby is directly exposed to smoke by you or another family member, your baby is more likely to be hospitalized and to suffer from breathing and stomach problems.

2. Your baby is more likely to be colicky and irritable and to experience a wide range of problems from apnea (short periods when the baby stops breathing), vomiting, poor growth, lazy eye, hearing impairment, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

3. Smoking depresses the immune system, leaving both you and your baby at greater risk for infections, allergies, and other immune system problems.

4. Nicotine reduces levels of hormones needed to make milk, which may lead to a decrease in your milk supply.

5. It also causes an adrenaline rush which may inhibit the release of the hormone needed for your milk to “let down.” This may delay milk from getting to your baby, decrease the amount of milk your baby gets, and lead to further decrease in your milk supply.

6. Nicotine is an appetite suppressant and can alter the taste of breast milk. While you might enjoy the benefits of a decreased appetite, it can cause your baby’s growth to falter.

8. Smoking can also alter the composition of your milk. Your milk will contain chemicals such as nitrates and nitrites, pesticides, dioxins, and have higher cadmium and lead levels than breast milk from a non-smoking mother (but even so, it is still better and less risky than feeding your baby formula).

9. Your baby may have lower levels of certain vitamins such as B12 and Vitamin C, which are needed to decrease the damage from cyanide and other chemicals from cigarette smoke.

Benefits of quitting while breastfeeding

1. The hormones released during feeding at the breast may actually blunt the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.

2. Most negative symptoms of nicotine exposure in babies fade quickly as exposure decreases.

3. You may feel more confident about your mothering abilities if you overcome this obstacle.

4. If you quit for good, you are more likely to live a longer and healthier life and be there for your baby as he grows.

Most experts agree that it is better for your baby if you breastfeed even if you are a smoker.  Even so, this is a great time to consider quitting.

While nicotine and breastfeeding are compatible, click here if you want to learn more about how to quit smoking.