You may often ask whether breast-feeding mothers who smoke to breast feed? The answer is yes. A mother who can not stop smoking should continue breastfeeding. Breastfeeding provides many benefits for babies especially for immunity, so that helps provide protection for the baby in the fight against disease.
Research has shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of negative side effects that are caused by cigarette smoke, such as lung disease in infants. It would be far better if the mothers did not smoke, but if the mother can not stop smoking, then it is better than maternal smoking and breastfeeding mothers smoking but give formula.
But no matter how, it would be better if you reduce or stop smoking while breast-feeding a baby. The reason is, the more cigarettes you smoke, the greater the health risk to be gained by you and your baby. If you can not quit smoking, at least you have to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke to minimize the risk to be accepted by your baby.
What happens to babies when they are exposed to secondhand smoke?
* Infants and children exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of developing pneumonia, asthma, ear infections, bronchitis, sinus infections, eye irritation, and shortness of breath.
* Colic in infants is often more common, especially if the breastfeeding mother or father smoked.
* Women who smoke and breast-feeding will lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea in infants.
* The children of mothers or fathers who smoke have a seven times greater chance of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
* Children of smoking parents, two to three times more frequent visits to the doctor – usually due to respiratory infection or allergy related.
* Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, tended to have higher HDL (good cholesterol) is lower. Though cholesterol can help protect children from coronary artery disease.
* Children of smoking parents are more likely to be smokers in the future.
* A recent study found that children whose parents smoke have twice the risk of lung cancer later in life.
How to minimize risk to the baby if you smoke?
* If you are able and capable, it’s better to quit smoking as a whole.
* Reduce. The less you smoke, the smaller the risk that may be suffered by the baby. The risk increases if you smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day.
* Do not smoke before, during and after feeding. This will inhibit the production of milk and dangerous for your baby.
* If you smoke before the benefits of breastfeeding, you should wait at least about 95 minutes to neutralize the levels of nicotine from your body.
* Avoid smoking in the same room with your baby. Do not let anyone smoke near your baby.
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Health of the Day 
Posted on February 18, 2012
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