Parenting Forums

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 7:32pm | IP Logged

I'm not one for lectures (pmsl), but my sister was a smoker and gave up after finding out she was pregnant so it can be done.

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 7:51pm | IP Logged

La Leche League and NCT both agree if a mother smokes it is still better to breastfeed than bottlefeed.  Nicotene stays in your blood stream and milk supply for 95 minutes after smoking a cigarette, so if you are going to breastfeed and smoke you are best smoking straight after a feed.

Low milk supply in the mother has been linked to smoking as nicotene lowers pro lactin levels in the blood.  If you smoke more than 20 a day then the risk is significantly higher to both you and your baby.  Bottle fed babies of smokers have much higher incidence of respiratory problems than breastfed babies whose parents smoke.

So my answer to your question is if you can't stop smoking it's still much better to breastfeed than not breastfeed.  Good luck and if you need any help just shout.

Posted: 22 September 2006 at 10:21pm | IP Logged

I am not a smoker. so I can't be of any advice there, but I had a horrible experience when it can to breast feeding.

I wanted more than anything in the whole world to breast feed my new born baby but when it came down to it she was just too hungry and her suck was too strong. I had a nurse with me every time she lached on so I was doing it right but after 5 days my nipples were bleeding and I was up for 48 hours without any sleep. Needless to say I was devastated and I think I will never get over it.

I think socitity places a huge amount of pressure on mums to breastfeed and whille I know its a proven fact that it best for baby I really do feel that I gave it my very best shot and was just not able to keep up with it for my own health.

Sorry for the rant but in short what I am trying to say is don't put too much pressure on yourself to breastfeed.

Posted: 23 September 2006 at 7:45pm | IP Logged

Ooops didn't see the breastfeeding forum- Sorry!

Everyone advice has been great! I am no longer worried about this so you've all helped to put my overactive worried mind to rest!

I am so determined to breastfeed as I bottlefed Ads and he now has Eczema and gets ill so much! I will definetely keep you all up to date on the trying to stop smoking thing!

Thanks everyone xxxxxx