Smoking and Breastfeeding – How Bad Is It?

hi i’am shanita and I am new to this site and this is my first pregnancy i was wondering if you smoke while pregnant is it still possible to breast feed when the baby comes or will that affect the baby’s health?”

Yes, and yes. If you smoked during your pregnancy you can still breastfeed. Of course the healthiest thing for you and your baby is to quit smoking right away, but even if you are not able to quit smoking by the time the baby is born, breastfeeding will still be healthier for your baby than formula feeding. But smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding does affect your baby, making the baby five time more likely to die SIDS even if you don’t smoke around your baby. If you’re not able to quit, then cut down as much as you can. It takes about 95 minutes for your body to get the nicotine out of your bloodstream, so you want to avoid smoking for as long as possible before a feeding. Smoking can also deplete the levels of vitamin C in your breast milk, so consider taking a vitamin supplement. And, of course, always step outside to smoke- never smoke in the house or car with your baby.