can i breastfeed if i'm a smoker?

Answer 1

Yes, but there are positives and negatives. My friend battles smoking addiction and decided to breastfeed her baby. Both parents smoke, not in the house or around him, but I have seen a huge difference in his health vs my own kid's(and mine was only b/fed for 4 months while she b/fed for 1 year). You don't need a lecture on the dangers of smoking....but I hope that you will make the decision soon to quit for your own health! Here is a good article by Le Leche about this very subject. I'm not a fan of theirs myself but this is very informative...
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/smoking.html

Answer 2

Yeah, but why would you do that to your child? I smoked from age 12 until 24 and quit 3.5 years ago, so I do understand your addiction I'm not just some nonsmoker judging you. Anyways, people will say "oh it won't hurt the baby" but people will say anything to "ok" their addiction. I would talk to your doctor about it, if you refuse to quit then at least he/she can inform you on the safest way to do it.

Oh and my parents and their friends smoked in my house throughout my entire childhood and I was plagued with ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitus, sinus infections, and I have asthma (which is why I ultimately had to quit smoking, I literally was coughing my lungs out). I believe I smoked because I was exposed to it soooo much in my house and thought it was no big thing as a kid. One of my friend's favorite stories was how in grade 1 we were supposed to say what we wanted to do when we grew up and I stood in front of the class and said "I want to smoke like my mom and dad". It grosses me out thinking the effect it had on me, you really should make an effort to quit.

Answer 3

you can but why are you smoking anyway? It's not good for your infant. It comes in on your skin, your clothes etc. I took my 9 month old to the ear specialist and he said that some of her chronic ear infections may be due to her father's smoking. He only smokes outside and never around her. He goes to the shed outside. Give them up now. Baby will thank you later

Answer 4

Yes you can. Just be considerate and don't smoke and breastfeed at the same time, you know?

Answer 5

It's better to smoke, and breastfeed, than not breastfeed at all. But it'd be better for both you and baby if you didn't.

Also, read this link, it has good info about smoking and breastfeeding: http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/smoking.html

Answer 6

Yes you can. I did with all 4 of mine. And they are all healthy as an ox! Big kids too. My 15 year old is already 6 foot tall. It is so healthy for them in the beginning. They have no immunities from disease, and with that you will give them yours and help keep them from getting something. I give you props for doing this. Most don't these days. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

i do not smoke myself but know lots of my friends that do or did breastfeed and they are smokers and the babies are just fine so i say you can and i ahve never heard a dr say u cant or that is unsafe

Answer 8

Not only can you, but you SHOULD. Breastfeeding will help protect your baby from the illnesses that he or she will be more susceptible to due the exposure to your smoke. Do try not to smoke around your baby, though, it's the least you can do.

Read this:
http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/smoking.html

Good luck!

Answer 9

highly unrecommended, smoke stays in clothing and in skin, so you would need to shower after each cigarette. My daughter is allergic to smoke, yep thats right not just asthmatic but allergic! Her grandmother held her after smoking when she was 3 mths old and she was hospitalized, it was very scary. So I would say don't breastfeed, and if you are going to smoke, at the very least please make sure to wash your hands and change your shirt before handling the baby. Oh and another thing children that are exposed to smoke before the age of two have a much higher risk of developing asthma.

Answer 10

u can breastfeed if you smoke but its not the best for ur baby since the chemicals u smoke are expressed directly into ur childs mouth when he/she feeds. its better for the baby too be bottle fed on formula if u smoke rather then exposing him/her too the harmfull chemicals.