Breastfeeding and Smoking

omen who smoke are less likely to breastfeed their babies. They are less motivated to do so. Then, what is the association between smoking and breastfeeding?

Breast Milk Defeats The Effects Of Smoking

Dutch researchers conducted tests on 570 nine-year old children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. They found that only those who had not been breastfed experienced poor cognitive development. They believed that breast milk boosted brain development. It also helped to neutralize the side effects of cigarette smoking during pregnancy.

Female Smokers Have Less Breast Milk

On the other hand, smoking does affect breastfeeding. Maternal smoking lowers breast milk production. Smoking suppresses the effects of prolactin, a hormone needed for breastfeeding. Studies showed that female smokers have lesser prolactin by 30 to 50% during the first 21 days of breastfeeding. In addition, smoking makes you wean your babies earlier and causes your baby gets colic more often.

Danger of Smoking During Breastfeeding

Can nicotine be transferred to infants in breast milk? If you breastfeed and smoke, you can picture yourself giving 20 cigarettes a day to your baby . Breast milk contained three-times amount of cotinine, a breakdown form of nicotine in the body as compared to the mother's bloodstream. Can you protect your child from this addiction if you persist to smoke?

Quit smoking will decrease the effect of smoking on your baby during pregnancy. It can be hard to change your smoking habits. But with the help of your doctor and family support, you can stop maternal smoking.