Q. Is it fine to breastfeed baby three hours after smoking?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I would recommend trying to quit entirely. Cigarette exposure in infants increases the risk for several problems, including asthma, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), eczema, and many more. There are several options to help quit, including nicotine patches, gum, and even some medications. I would speak to your doctor about quitting. If you must smoke, try doing it before breastfeeding. It takes 90 minutes for half of the nicotine in your body to be eliminated, so it is very difficult to eliminate it entirely. Additionally, never smoke around your baby, always do it outside, wash your hands and change your clothes before returning to your baby. A good rule of thumb is that if you can smell the smoke, your baby is being exposed to it. That being said, the benefits of breastfeeding are immense and are generally thought to outweigh the risk of minor nicotine exposure in breast milk. So in summary, try to quit if you can, but if you cannot, take the above steps to minimize your baby's exposure. Please let me know if you have any more questions and have a nice day.

Dr. Galen Harnden

Paediatrics

---

Related Questions:
Oral Health in Breastfed Babies

Firstly, let us know how breastfeeding is classified according to the World Health Organisation (WHO): Exclusive breastfeeding - where the baby is fed only the mother&rsquo ...   Read full

How does Nicotex chewing gum help quit smoking?

Hello doctor, How does Nicotex chewing gum help in quitting smoking ... Nicotex chewing gums are often resorted to, these days, as a means to quit smoking ...   Read full

What homeopathic treatment can be done for dark circles around eyes?

Black lips are due to anemia, cyanosis, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse and regular narcotic use may all cause discoloration of the lips ...   Read full