Smoking and alcohol are the most serious challenges to your health and future generation. It’s one thing if an adult woman who deliberately chose cigarettes “absorbs” nicotine is much worse and unfair if a newborn baby suffers from poisonous substances obtained, including with milk.

Nursing moms and pregnant women should read again how dangerous smoking is. breastfeeding  for the child, what are the consequences of this habit and how to minimize the harm from tobacco smoke.

At present, WHO has radically changed the approach to lactation, including smoking during breastfeeding.

World-class experts believe that if, nevertheless, newly minted mothers do not give up cigarettes, then it is better to continue to feed with milk, and not to transfer the child.

Misinterpreting the findings of scientists, some young moms continue to smoke half a pack and drink alcohol, thinking that such actions will not harm the newborn baby. It is necessary to understand where such controversial medical opinion came from.

The bad habit usually does not appear during HB, but flows smoothly from the period of carrying a baby. For 9 months, cigarettes and alcohol have already caused serious harm to the child. It is proved that smoky women give birth to children with low weight and poor health.

For these babies, mother's milk is the best medicine. Having deprived of their natural product, one can expect that a developmental lag, an excessively slow formation of immunity, will begin. That is, the harm from refusing to lactation is significantly higher than the negative from smoking with HB.

Nicotine hazard

Nicotine is a plant alkaloid found in tobacco leaves. This substance is considered the most serious drug (they include heroin, cocaine, alcohol), it is extremely dangerous for the human body.

The lethal dose of the toxin is 1 milligram per kilogram of weight, while in cyanide potassium a little more is 1.7 milligrams per kilogram. That is, nicotine on the degree of negative impact is almost equal to the strongest poison. And if you count the nicotine contained in the smoke ...

In addition to this alkaloid, the “smoking tube” contains about 4000 other dangerous substances that harm the female body. And about 65 of them lead to malignant tumors.

Tobacco smoke is dangerous not only for a smoking person, but also for the whole environment. The resulting "cloud" contributes to the emergence of the so-called passive smokers. I mean, a smoking mother, regardless of her own desire, affects the newborn through her milk and smoke.

So, the woman smoked, and after a couple of minutes the nicotine enters the bloodstream (alcohol is even faster - after 30 seconds). After a quarter of an hour, this toxin penetrates into breast milk.

If you wait 1.5 hours, the amount of this substance will be halved. But since some mothers smoke often, the level of nicotine in milk practically does not decrease.

How does a smoked cigarette affect a baby? Numerous studies show significant harm, expressed in the following negative consequences:

1. Heart dysfunction.  Nicotine can lead to heart disease. Vascular spasms lead to a disruption of the rhythm of the tiny heart, as a result of which there is an accelerated heartbeat or a violation of the contractility of this organ. The result may be heart failure.
2. Risk of SIDS.  Smoking with the breast feeding method (like alcohol), according to foreign scientists, will contribute to an increase in the threat of sudden infant death syndrome. Studies have shown that the risk increases 5 times if both father and mother are addicted to cigarettes, and 3 times if only a nursing woman likes to smoke.
3. Constant colic.  American pediatricians have found that the harmful components of cigarettes, trapped with milk in the children's body, affect the state of the gastrointestinal tract. It turned out that about half of the babies whose mothers smoke, suffer from colic, and in the other group (whose mothers were not seen in a bad habit) such a problem was observed only in one fifth of the children.
4. Poisoning.  If a smoking mom practically does not part with a pack of cigarettes, the potential harm turns into quite real - the poisoning of the child. This condition is accompanied by nausea and gagging and, of course, requires calling an ambulance brigade.
5. Problems with the weight of the baby.  Scientific evidence shows that the child is gaining weight poorly due to smoking. There are only two prerequisites for this. First of all, because of the unpleasant taste of milk, the baby often begins to regurgitate, and, therefore, the volume of the resulting product decreases. Also, a smoking woman has a decrease in lactation (approximately 20% in 2 weeks). Naturally, the lack of milk affects the timing of the end of breastfeeding and the normal development of the child.
6. Lack of nutrients.  The volume of vitamin and mineral components in breast milk decreases. This phenomenon is quite natural, since nicotine and alcohol interfere with their absorption by the female body.
7. Tendency to colds. Mother-smoked tobacco products increase the frequency of respiratory diseases in a child. Scarce will be predisposed to pneumonia, bronchitis, catarrhal diseases. And the danger remains, even if the woman refused to breastfeed, but still smokes.

Such data are not provided by any forum, but by quite reliable scientific sources. Of course, it is up to the mother to decide, but her distrust of these facts does not in any way cancel the harm that toxic substances cause to a small child.

How does the baby develop further?

Some smokers and nursing moms believe that the lactation period is too short, so the probability of harm is small, and after the end of breastfeeding all the likely negative consequences will go away. This is not true, they persist.

Studies show that the child remains restless, irritable. During training, difficulties with memorizing, mastering the curriculum and material are seen, aggressive behavior is observed.

As for health, such a child suffers from constant problems with the respiratory system. Allergy is another problem for children whose mothers smoked tobacco products from time to time or drank alcohol.

In addition, nicotine addiction, “absorbed” with milk, makes the child himself reach for cigarettes. Such an addiction further worsens the state of health, causing multiple injuries to the immature adolescent body.

The opinion of experts on lactation is obvious: smoking while breastfeeding is extremely negative for the mother and the child. That is why the best solution is to completely abandon the pernicious addiction.

However, often the habit turns out to be stronger than its owner, and the woman is looking for an alternative to cigarettes — electronic devices, various patches and chewing gums. Each of these substitutes has certain features that the women's forum will not tell and the girlfriend will not tell.

E-Sigs

Such a device, looking like an inhalation device with a small generator and replaceable cartridges containing aromatic substances and pure nicotine, is now extremely common.

Some women, after reading the forum or advertising, think that such devices do not affect the body. However, risks still exist.

Nursing mommy, accustomed to the usual cigarette, lacks "nicotine" sensations, so that the device is used very often.

Meanwhile, the volume of toxins in the substitute is somewhat higher than in an ordinary tobacco product. Because of the frequent puffs, the mother and the baby get a huge dose of nicotine, which is fraught with an overdose for the woman and poisoning for the child.

WHO and domestic pulmonologists against electronic cigarettes in the lactation period!

Nicotine gum

American researchers have revealed a curious pattern: the use of chewing gum lowers the amount of nicotine obtained by a child with milk by 2.5 times. This is pretty good news for nursing women, but it is important to use the gum correctly.

If Mommy will too often or actively use it, then a sharp increase in the amount of toxin in the bloodstream and milk is possible. Experts advise not to attach the child to the breast for 2-3 hours after using this substitute.

Plasters

Experts consider them the safest imitation of familiar tobacco products. Nicotine patches reduce the amount of alkaloid in the blood and breast milk by more than half.

A significant drawback is that the woman still continues to “poison” the baby with this poison, although it is enough just to refuse to smoke regular “smoking pipes” often.

To the question whether nursing mom can smoke, any doctor will answer in the negative. However, if a woman is so addicted to cigarettes that even possible negative consequences for her child do not frighten her, harm should be minimized.

To do this, follow the following principles of "safe" smoking:

• Try not to smoke in the room where the newborn lies. It has already been said that a passive little smoker suffers in much the same way as with “active” smoking through milk. Smoke on the street, away from the child.
• Try changing a regular cigarette to a nicotine patch. Although the sensations are incomparable, but the harmful substances into the body crumbs get a lot less.
• Having smoked, do not give the chest another 2-3 hours. During this time period, most of the toxins will come out of the mother's body, which means that you will cause less harm to your baby. That is, you need to smoke immediately after feeding the crumbs.
• Avoid smoking at night. During this period, the activation of hormones that stimulate the secretion of breast milk.
• Try to drink more pure water. The use of a significant amount of fluid will reduce the amount of alkaloid and rather remove it from the body.
• Eat more vitamins and generally eat. useful products. Toxins destroy ascorbic acid in the body, so it can only be restored with the help of vitamin complexes.
• Reduce the number of cigarettes smoked. The maximum that a nursing woman can afford is 5 tobacco products per day. Restriction minimizes all sorts of risks.

If it's hard to refuse alone, find a forum for like-minded people online. The company will be easier and more fun.

It is impossible to quit smoking ... Where to put a punctuation mark, only a nursing mother should decide. Alcohol and nicotine - narcotic substances, therefore, extremely negatively affect the health and health of the baby.

Perhaps the probable consequences will force a woman to abandon his addiction, because the baby is not to blame, that she is too weak to fight his addiction.

Hello, I am Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully studied at SUSU for a special psychologist, I spent several years working with children with developmental problems and advising parents on how to raise babies. The experience gained is applied, including, in the creation of articles of psychological orientation. Of course, in no case do I pretend to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers to deal with any difficulties.

It is certainly unacceptable to smoke and at the same time feed the child with milk. But, despite the harmful effects of cigarettes on the mother and child, in our society, especially in the metropolis, smoking nursing mothers are found. Many mothers manage to quit smoking only after learning that a pregnancy has occurred. Many girls, leading a carefree lifestyle, as soon as they see 2 strips on a pregnancy test - immediately or after a few days they decide to quit smoking. One thing is when you poison your body and harm your health, another thing is when you have the life of an unborn child in your hands, his health. And the thought of smoking disappears somewhere - the girls enter a new consciousness - “I am the future mother”. It sometimes happens that the first trimester toxicosis completely discourages the desire to smoke - here the body itself intervenes in the situation because it now has other needs - to preserve the fetus, to provide everything necessary. Morning nausea - a sign of hormonal adjustment - there's no time for a cigarette. This is a great success if the expectant mother manages to quit this habit. And if not?

In this article, I will not condemn or "feed" morals. I just want to analyze this situation in detail: a nursing mother smokes, how to reduce the harmful effects on a child?

Just want to debunk one myth.

MYTH: If mommy smokes, then it is better not to feed her.

On the contrary! If mommy smokes - she really needs to keep breastfeeding. Nicotine in breast milk certainly appears, as well as in mother’s blood. But at the same time, breast milk softens the harmful effects of nicotine and protects the child’s body. You can not continue to smoke and switch to artificial formulas for feeding your baby - the child will be a passive smoker at the same time, but he will not have the saving protection of breast milk. The artificial mixture will not protect it from cigarette smoke. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding - feed as long as possible.

Keeping breastfeeding will protect your baby as much as they can, but not 100%. Nicotine entering the body of babies makes them more restless. In such children are more common and lasts longer colic. Such babies are more exposed. respiratory diseases. A child receiving milk from a smoking mother is more likely to get sick allergic disease. And, of course, since nicotine is a narcotic substance by its nature, respectively, the child will be addicted to nicotine and in the future there is a high probability that he, too, will become a heavy smoker, like his parent.

I was in the maternity hospital in the same room as the smoking mother. This mother ran 10 times a day (and even at night) to smoke. Her baby was more restless. Mom did not understand why her baby wakes up and cries all the time, and the child of the neighbor (that is mine) sleeps quietly after feeding. Doctors explained to this mother that the child was also addicted to cigarettes. Just a child gets his dose of nicotine with milk.

Nicotine affects milk production, in particular, it inhibits the production of prolactin (a hormone responsible for the formation of milk). A smoking mother risks earlier than she plans to finish breastfeeding due to a lack of milk. Nicotine speeds up the metabolism (metabolism), so a smoking mother spends more calories and she and her baby need more food. Children whose mothers smoke have lower weight gains.

Pediatricians claim that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (in Russian literature SIDS) is more common in children of smoking parents.

Recommendations for organizing breastfeeding smoking mom

1. Since smoking affects milk production (the formation of prolactin), it is necessary not to smoke strictly from 10 pm to 8 am.
2. Smoke only after feeding, if just before the next feeding time is not less than 2 hours
3. Smoke as little as possible.
4. Consume more fluids and eat fully, taking into account all the necessary proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
5. And, of course, do not smoke with a child.
6. On my own, I would advise all the same to quit smoking.

Here are some life stories:

In one forum, one young mommy writes that she smokes and breastfeeds and is very tormented by torments of conscience. Her other mom with an experience of smoking replies this way:

"I really understand you. I myself promised 100 times that I would get rid of this habit. And so I suffered the whole pregnancy. My child is 6 months old, I still smoke. But we are fine. I smoked 10 years and with such experience it is impossible to quit. Further more - if you abruptly quit - you won’t get any problems. You will become nervous, the milk will end. Do you need it? My advice to you is to relax, nerve will only increase the number of cigarettes smoked. Try to smoke less, and you and I don't need to be nervous. ”

Here's another

“My experience is 12 years. But I had enough 3 days to quit smoking. I just learned that in the position. When I smoked, I firmly told myself: Honey, when you get pregnant, no cigarettes. In fact, pregnancy was a way for me to quit. Of course, afterwards I wanted to smoke, then the book by Alan Cara, “An Easy Way to Stop Smoking”, helped me

Here's another

“I read the book of A.Kara“ Easy way to quit smoking ”and quit smoking. For half a year ... Then everything was back. I got pregnant and “thought” for 3 days, after which I tied it up. Apparently, 3 days is the deadline for pregnant women to think again. When my son was 9 months old, I was terribly bored with cigarettes. Again began to smoke. But now I smoke very little and one. And the soul suffers that I am harassing this filth from a kid ... ”

Here's another

“I smoke for 15 years and I smoke without interruption. Even when I bore my daughter, then I fed her. My baby was born healthy. I was able to feed her up to almost 3 years, there was plenty of milk. My daughter moved to the 7th grade, with her I never held a cigarette in my hands. Recently my second baby was born. And again the same story: pregnancy, breastfeeding with a cigarette in hand. I always think about what to quit. That I need a healthy mother to my children and my husband. I read books, went to seminars, and used different chewing gums and patches. Nothing helped me. Now I think, why did I start smoking ??? Why do I condemn myself to the suffering of my children? Why do I cause such a health risk? Smoking is a terrible disease, a terrible habit! Girls! avoid smoking! Do not start smoking! Throw who smokes before it's too late. Throw, until everything is aggravated. Do not break your life! "

"It happened to me like that." I smoked before pregnancy and the first 5 weeks. Then threw. And for a period of 30 weeks, my husband said that he was leaving me and leaving our child. With grief, I again took up cigarettes and smoked until delivery. I don’t know how, apparently God cared for the child - the son was born with a good weight, healthy. We are all right now, I still smoke, but only at night. Conscience is constantly tormenting me, I can not quit this poison "

“I managed to smoke only 1-2 cigarettes a day during pregnancy. At week 32, the waters broke, the contractions began ... The baby was born cyanotic, small. He was put in a cubicle, poked tubes into it. He breathed through the mask. Thanks to the doctors, he survived. Every day I prayed to God that my son would not leave me. Only god knows what hell I went through. I forgot about cigarettes. Son year, breastfeed him. He grew up, matured and very developed. Since then, I do not smoke. (My husband, by the way, also left)

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