Breastfeeding and smoking

Generalities

The impact of smoking, even "light", on the breastfeeding mother and her baby has been scientifically demonstrated: it is essentially the Nicotine, a violent poison, which disrupts their organisms. 

Impact of nicotine on breastfeeding mothers

• drop in the rate of Prolactin, resulting in decreased milk production
• slowing of milk flow: the baby can no longer suckle properly, and therefore their weight gain is insufficient

Impact of nicotine on the breastfeeding baby

A baby breastfed by a mother who smokes is a victim of passive smoking: in fact, nicotine passes very quickly into the milk and therefore into the child's body. The consequences are those of nicotine poisoning:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach aches
• ENT problems (ear infections, rhinitis, tonsillitis, etc.)
• heart rhythm disorders
• blood pressure abnormalities

The severity of the symptoms is proportional to the extent of the intoxication, that is, the number of cigarettes smoked by the mother.

Read also:

Smoking and childhood leukemia

Bronchiolitis: some simple prevention measures

Effects of tobacco on the body

Smoking damages the brain

Tobacco addiction: what are the causes?

3 misconceptions about smoking

What's in a cigarette?

Photo credit : A young mother breastfeeding her little baby girl while holding in her arms at light spacious domestic bedroom – Stanislav_uvarov – Fotolia