Effects Of Smoking, Alcohol, And Medicines On Breastfeeding
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What are the effects of nicotine on my health and the health of my breast fed baby?
- Nicotine is a chemical found in cigarettes, bidis and kreteks (imported cigarettes), cigars, pipes, "light" cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snuff). If you use nicotine, you increase your risk of getting many types of cancers and heart disease, and many other medical problems. These medical problems can be very serious, and can kill you. Scientists have found that nicotine spreads throughout your body when you smoke, and has also been found in breast milk. This means that you are feeding your baby this harmful chemical if you use nicotine during the time that you are breast feeding.
- Cigarette smoking may reduce the amount of milk your body makes. The fat content of your milk may also be reduced. Both of these side effects of smoking may cause your baby to gain weight too slowly. Smoking may also cause you to have to stop breast feeding (wean) earlier than you wanted to.
- Second-hand smoke has many of the same chemicals found in cigarettes. Exposure to second-hand smoke happens when breathing the smoke from someone else's cigarette, or from a person breathing out while smoking a cigarette. This kind of smoke also causes cancer and places a person at higher risk of heart disease. In young children, their risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis increases. Their risk is even higher than that of an adults because their lungs are not yet fully developed. An asthmatic child's condition will get worse if he is exposed to second-hand smoke. A child may also have more ear infections.
If I continue to use nicotine and choose to breast feed, what can I do to decrease the harmful effects of nicotine? Make every attempt to stop using nicotine if you plan to, or are breast feeding your baby. While working towards quitting, do the following:
- Decrease the number of cigarettes, or amount of nicotine that you use each day. For example, the fewer cigarettes you smoke each day, the more you decrease the health risks to you and your baby.
- If you need to smoke or use nicotine, wait until after you finish a breast feeding session. Do not use nicotine before or during a breast feeding session. The longer you wait to breast feed since you last smoked or used nicotine, the less nicotine your baby may be exposed to.
- Never smoke near your baby. If you need to smoke, only smoke outside. Never smoke in the car when your baby is with you. Do not expose your baby to secondhand smoke.
- Talk to your caregiver about how to stop smoking. For more information call:
- Smokefree.gov
Phone: 1-800-784-8669
Web Address: www.smokefree.gov
- American Lung Association
61 Broadway, 6th floor
New York City, NY 10006
Phone: 1-800-586-4872
Web Address: http://www.lungusa.org
- Smokefree.gov
Can I breast feed my baby and drink alcohol? You should avoid drinking any drinks that contain alcohol while you breast feed. This includes beer, "light" beer, wine, mixed drinks, and all liquids that contain alcohol. Alcohol affects the central nervous system of both you and your baby. Your milk "let-down" and milk supply may be decreased if you drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol can change the flavor of your milk. Your baby's ability to suckle may change. He may suck too often, and get less milk. All of these things together could cause a health risk for your baby if you drink alcohol.
Is it possible to have a drink of alcohol once in a while if I am breast feeding my baby? Ask your caregiver if you should drink alcohol while breast feeding, and consider the following:
- When you take a drink of alcohol is important. The alcohol in your breast milk is at its highest within 30 to 60 minutes if you drink with an empty stomach. The alcohol in your breast milk is at its highest within 60 to 90 minutes if you drink while eating. Wait at least two hours for every drink consumed before putting your baby to the breast.
- Some people think that pumping your breasts and throwing away the milk makes the alcohol disappear from your breast milk faster. This is not true and is not necessary. But, you can pump so you are more comfortable or to keep up your milk supply while your wait for the alcohol to leave your breast milk.
- Try drinking "nonalcoholic" beer instead of regular beer if you drink beer to help increase your milk supply. Also, try nonalcoholic beer if you are trying to relax so your milk will let-down.
- Other things like how much you weigh and your baby's age are also important.
Can I take medicine while I breast feed?
- Some medicines are prescribed (given to you) by a medical caregiver. You can buy others without a prescription. These are called "over-the-counter" medicines. Almost all medicines pass through your breast milk. But, only a small number of medicines have been fully studied in breast feeding women. This means that caregivers do not know how they will affect your baby.
- Breast milk gives your baby the most effective immunity (protection) against disease for his first year of life. The benefits of breast feeding are very great. Most of the time a medicine can be chosen that works well for you while still being safe for your baby. Talk with your caregiver before you take any medicine, whether it you get it with a prescription or over-the-counter.
What should I do if I need to use medicine while I am breast feeding? Always talk to both your caregiver and your baby's caregiver about any type of medicine you need. Caregivers think about several things before telling you whether it is OK to use the medicine. They know how long it takes the medicine to reach the highest level in your bloodstream (the medicine's "peak"). Caregivers also know the half-life of the medicine, or when half of the medicine is gone from your blood.
- Carefully watch your milk supply if you have to take antihistamines. These are found in allergy, cold, and cough medicines and can cause you to become dehydrated. Dehydration means not having enough fluid in your body, which could decrease your milk supply. Watch your milk supply carefully if you are taking birth control pills that are made with estrogen. Your caregiver will work with you to choose the best medicine for you and your baby.
- If you have to take medicine, breast feed your baby first, and then immediately take your medicine. This gives your body time to get rid of as much medicine as possible before your baby's next feeding.
- Street drugs are very harmful to your breast fed baby. Never use illegal (street) drugs when you are breast feeding, or if you are pregnant.
Can my baby's caregiver help me if I have breast feeding questions or problems? Ask for information about breast feeding, and make sure caregivers know that breast feeding is important to you. Ask your caregiver for the name of a Lactation Consultant. This person is specially trained to help women breast feed their babies. Ask caregivers about a breast feeding class before your baby is born, or call your hospital for more information. Breast feeding support groups can also help you learn about breast feeding your baby. Call or write one of the following for more information.
- La Leche League International
1400 N. Meacham Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4808
Phone: 1-847-519-7730
Web Address: http://www.lalecheleague.org
- Human Milk Banking Association of North America
1500 Sunday Dr., Suite 102
Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: 1-919-861-4530
Web Address: http://www.hmbana.org
- Women, Infants and Children Program
Food and Nutrition Services
WIC Program
Supplemental Food Programs Division
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 1-703-305-2196
Web Address: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your baby's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your baby's diet. You can then discuss treatment options with your baby's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your baby.
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