Smoking and Nicotine

• Avoid subjecting your baby to the harmful effects of second hand smoke.
• Smoking may decrease your milk supply.
• Smoke immediately after nursing so the dose of nicotine in the breastmilk has time to leave the breasts in time for the next feeding. 
• Side effects of nicotine for your baby may include bad tasting breastmilk, decreased appetite, fussiness and restlessness.
• Try to stop smoking or at least limit the number of cigarettes smoked each day.
• A nicotine patch while breastfeeding may be less risky than smoking. Try to gradually decrease the patch dose and hopefully break the habit.
• Short-acting products, like gum or lozenges, are also an option. 
  

Kay Anderson MD, IBCLC

5/23