Parenting Forums

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 10:03am | IP Logged

Right Im now 22 weeks pregnant and am still in two minds about breastfeeding. I need honest answers but no lectures and know this may be a bit controversial to some people. I am a smoker and have not been able to quit. One of the reasons I chose to bottlefeed Adam was the fact I was still smoking. So I was wondering if anyone still smoked and breastfed? I know this is not the most ideal thing to do but I am trying to give up but if I cant need to see what I can do. Hope this post made sense!

So any advice from other mums would be much appreciated as all I get off MW are lectures about smoking.

Thanks again.

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 10:59am | IP Logged

amy, i know exactly what you mean i am a smoker and smoked all through my pregnancy with molly i tried loads of times to give up i just couldnt, i also breast fed her but i only lasted 6 weeks (i think) as she wasnt gaining weight and i was so worried i wasnt giving her enough milk. i was lucky i wasnt getting told off about me smoking they did say it was best to give up but i told them how i was finding it hard and too be fair they were brill hope this helps if its somethin you really want to do go for it hun xx jue xx

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 12:06pm | IP Logged

Thanks Lynie and Jue.

I have tried countless times to give up smoking and keep failing! But It is nice to know Im not the only one.

Im going to keep attempting to give up smoking and will definetely keep everyone posted!

Thanks again xxx

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 12:35pm | IP Logged

I smoked during both of mine...and breastfed...tasja i fed for 9 months...til the little madam bit me...bottle for you my girl.  Isla i managed about 6 weeks, but couldnt keep up with her, i only lasted that amount of time as i was under a lot of stress etc, hubby being away, tasja just starting school, looking after everyone else but not myself, generally trying to be supermum.  My mw..after the initial lecture of giving up etc, said that if i was going to carry on...then i should smoke outside..which we do anyway as i dont want to clean up the nicotine stains when we move...plus the house doesnt stink if we do it outside...also if i was to have a cigarette then i should leave it an hour before i fed again. 

My two didnt lose weight...they werent small babies...they are both perfectly fine, its personal choice end of the day.

The health profession is there to lecture into quitting smoking etc, like i said before if you can quit billy bonus..but if you dont want to then fair enuff.

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 12:55pm | IP Logged

Oh thank god! I was starting to feel so awful as everyone I know doesn't smoke!

I smoke outside anyway and only smoke 5 fags a day so hopefully all will go well! Thanks again!

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 7:01pm | IP Logged

Here's a link to an article about breastfeeding and smoking that may be of interest

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/smoking.html

Its well worth reading the whole thing, in particular the bit that says nicotine takes 95 mins to get out of your system so you should avoid smoking close to feeding times. In short, if you smoke less than 20 ciggies a day, the risk is small.

I hope you don't mind, but I've moved this post to the breastfeeding forum as I know some of our breastfeeding mums subsribe to this forum and they may have some info.

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 7:09pm | IP Logged

i always smoke outside too, amy 5 cigs aday that aint bad i wish i only smoked that many i am on about 10 - 12 but want to cut down if i can.