Smoking while breastfeeding exposes the child to high risks due to toxic substances present in classic cigarettes and also in electronic ones. These substances pass through the breast milk, that we remember being the only one source of nourishment for the child in the first months of life. Also, if mom smokes, the child passively breathes the smoke.
Smoking while breastfeeding: the risks for the baby
La nicotine and other chemical substances contained in tobacco smoke certainly pass into breast milk. The health effects are not like that pericolosi as in pregnancy, but it is still appropriate avoid smoking altogether if you are breastfeeding your baby. The phenomenon is similar to what happens with alcohol and drugs, so it is absolutely not to be underestimated.
The real problem would not lie so much in the nicotine that passes into the milk, but more in the toxic substances that are released into the environment by smoking, and which are then inhaled by the baby. In a nutshell, what really should be avoided isexposure of the child to secondhand smoke, and this applies not only if it is the mother who smokes, but the father or friends and relatives who visit.
What Are the Effects of Breastfeeding Smoking on Babies?
We have seen that smoking while breastfeeding is harmful and the nicotine passes into breast milk, but even if you decide to use formula milk for your baby, you need to pay close attention to do not smoke in the house to avoid secondhand smoke. The fact that the mother smokes is a risk factor for several negative conditions that may be of interest to the child: let's see which are the main ones.
- Death in the cot
- Lower respiratory tract diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia
- Otitis
- Decreased lung function
Smoking while breastfeeding poses a health risk as well because it can compromise breastfeeding itself and involves a decrease in the amount of milk. The effect may be due to nicotine lowering the levels of the hormone prolactin.
How to minimize the risks for children
What can be done for reduce and minimize the risks associated with smoking for the baby? Here are some simple common sense rules to apply daily, especially if one of the parents smokes or if we know we have to receive smoking guests.
- Never smoke near the baby.
- Smoking outdoors only, avoiding homes and cars that would otherwise become soaked in smoke.
- Ask friends and family to do the same.
- If you are a mom who smokes: try to limit the number of cigarettes smoked during the day and let a certain amount of time between the cigarette and the feed.
- If both parents are smokers: change clothes after smoking, and always before having to approach the child.
- In general, for anyone who smokes, the rules of always apply wash your hands after smoking, before touching the baby. In general it is always a good idea wash your hands well before touching a baby.
Frequently asked questions about smoking while breastfeeding
- If after smoking, mom waits some time before feeding, does nicotine vanish?
Given that as we said in the previous paragraphs, it would always be better avoid smoking altogether, if you really can't do without it, you have to consider that the longer you wait after smoking, the more the nicotine concentration will decrease, which will be rapidly eliminated from the body. The fact of having to breastfeed can also be used as an expedient for the mother to smoke less and perhaps reduce cigarettes forever. However, since there are many risks related to exposure to secondhand smoke, in reality distancing breastfeeding and cigarettes never completely reduces the risks themselves.
- If I use the electronic cigarettes, Does the child run any risks?
Electronic cigarettes or (E-cig) are considered safer when it comes to breastfeeding? This is not quite the case, especially since no real studies have been done on it. The smoke generated by electronic cigarettes also contains chemicals or potentially chemicals, including nicotine. For these reasons the ideal, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, would be also suspend the use of electronic cigarettes.
- What is the maximum number of cigarettes in one day if you are breastfeeding?
It would be impossible to answer this question with a certain and absolute number. We must always start from the assumption that smoking is bad for your health and you shouldn't do it regardless, whether you are pregnant, whether you are breastfeeding, and even if you are not in these particular conditions. So try to limit smoking as much as possible and if you are trying to quit, read our articles: how to quit smoking.
Article source Alfeminile
