Problems with smoking during lactation
- Babies who are exposed to maternal smoking are at higher risk for colic.
- Any cigarette smoke around a baby increases the baby's risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Cigarette smoking reduces mother’s milk supply.
- Cigarette smoking decreases the fat in mother's milk, which can have a negative impact on the baby's weight gain.
Nicotine Replacements
- Mothers who smoke and breastfeed should be encouraged to switch to nicotine replacement such as the patch, in the lowest dose possible.
- Nicotine replacements might increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in babies.
It is ideal that mothers who smoke and breastfeeding continue to breastfeed, but stop smoking and try a non-nicotine replacement to help stay quit from cigarettes.
