What happens if a nursing mother smokes?
These children are at the most risk. Besides the secondhand smoke and side stream smoke in the room, they are exposed to tobacco chemicals in the mother’s breast milk. The milk supply of a mother who smokes may not be adequate for the growth of her baby because nicotine decreases milk supply. How can I protect my child from passive smoke? • Don’t smoke in your house or around your child. • Don’t allow anyone else to smoke in your house or around your child. • Don’t leave your child with someone who smokes. • Don’t hold your child while you are smoking. • Your baby will get less chemicals in the breast milk if you smoke after you have nursed your baby. • Use signs and stickers to ask smokers to refrain from smoking around you. • Encourage your smoking family and friends to quit • Don’t put out ashtrays on your home. Air and smoke will move all through your house, so smoking in another room still exposes your child to secondhand smoke. How can I stop smoking? Ask your doctor for help, or
