smoking while breast feeding..

[nicolelemley]

ok so my sister has a 2 month old daughter and also a two year old daughter she decided to breast feed with her newest baby...she recently told me she had smoked while she was pregnant and still smoked after she had the baby and she told me because i had gotten mad at her for smoking while she was pregnant the first time..we are really close and she said she just wanted to tell me anyways...she said she did research and the internet said to not quit breastfeeding but to not smoke within 90 minutes of nursing and she has often come in from smoking and within 10 minutes nursed...it really bothers me but i am not sure how bad cigarettes are for babies can someone help?

[Illyria54]

It's plain and simple although brutal I'm afraid, cigarettes can kill, it is really irresponsible and very selfish to smoke while pregnant and to smoke around young children, I know someone who did the same thing and each time I saw her with a fag in her hand I wanted to give her a very strong piece of my mind,and that's putting it mildly, I gave up smoking when my hubby and I decided to start a family, women and even men who can't do this for the sake of a small life shouldn't have children at all.
Sorry, just my opinion, + I am always grumpy first thing in the morning!
PS. I still don't smoke 33 years later!

[Psychick]

I was fortunate enough to have given up smoking before even trying for baby number two as I know how hard it is to stop smoking. I was still a smoker when I fell with baby number 6 years ago but gave up asap for my babys health. Unfortunately, I did start again but not til a couple of years later. Luckily my daughter has been fine healthwise but my could still tell on her health as the years go by and thats something I have to live with. So Im not perfect but your sister doesnt even sound like she has even tried to quit smoking at all! I urge you to get as much written info as possible from your local surgery/hospital that you can give to your sister to read so she fully understands what she is doing to the health of her baby as well as her two year old and her own health! Whatever is going into her own body, is also going into her babys body through breastfeeding. That means the poisons from the cigarette are going into her body and her babys! Try and help her and encourage her to stop but with medical help as I feel this would be a better option for all as baby will be addicted to the cigarettes as well! Be as supportive as you can and I hope she listens and stops!
Good luck :)

P.S. You may find you will get more answers if this is posted in the family catergory or health section in body and soul catergory :)

[Annlinda]

Over 40 years ago I smoked during pregnancy and had 2 healthy sons who are both healthy men in their forties. OK we now know smoking in pregnancy is the most wicked thing a mother can do to her unborn child but dont panic its not the end of the world. I worry about modern Mums who are kicked out of hospital within hours of having their baby absolutely exhausted and expected to carry on as normal. I remember being looked after for 10 days in hospital, babe taken to nursery at night and Mum allowed a decent nights sleep. Bliss...............

[nicolelemley]

thank you for the answers..she did quit though for a while but it was because of a job!! that was really aggravating to me she could quit for a job but not for her own child!! but i love her very much and it seems like she doesnt care what anyone says because i spoke my mind when she smoked when she was pregnant before...but i dont think she even wants to quit i will try to hint to her that i think she should...she has also told me she didnt want me to tell my grandma because she knows she would get mad but sometimes i feel like telling her because maybe she would quit that way..