The Nursing Baby - Q&A

Dear concerned mother,
You are right that smoking is not ideal for you or for baby. However, because breastmilk is so healthy compared to formula, it is better for you to breastfeed your baby, and feed baby the pumped milk than to formula feed according to current medical guidelines. Breastmilk contains antibodies to disease, and many factors that make it healthier than formula, even considering that you smoke.

So be proud of yourself for nursing, even when you smoke. If you try to time when you smoke, aim for smoking outside your home while your baby is asleep if you can, or when you are both outdoors. That may be more important than timing it after you nurse - since inhaled second hand smoke has definite health consequences such as increased rates of asthma and other lung problems for children of smokers. And as a former smoker myself, I wish you great luck when you try to quit. Smoking is a tremendously difficult habit to break, but it can be done.