Breastfeeding is recommended even in smoking mothers

Although smoking has an impact on breast milk, breastfeeding is recommended for smoking mothers.

Maternal smoking: a real danger to the child

Several experts said that smoking reduces by about 20% the amount of milk produced.

Moreover, "the nicotine passes into breast milk and its concentration is nearly 3 times the plasma concentration of the mother," said Brigitte Fontaine, an obstetrician-gynecologist and tobacco specialist hospital in Angouleme (Charente).

Several studies have also revealed nicotine levels 10 times higher in children of smoking mothers who breastfeed compared to non-breastfed children of smoking mothers, she added.

However, despite the presence of nicotine in milk, nutritional quality is largely unaltered, said the specialist.

Similarly, the protective effect of breastfeeding compared to infection seems to be preserved.

A Norwegian study of 3,754 children showed the benefits of extended breastfeeding on respiratory diseases in children in the first year, with a particularly significant that the mother was exposed to tobacco difference, she said.

It appears from this study that the risk of respiratory illness in children is multiplied by 1.1 if a smoker long lactation by 1.3 for breastfeeding less than 6 months in a non-smoker and by 2.2 if less than 6 months lactation a smoker, compared to the risk observed during prolonged by a non-smoker breastfeeding.

"The protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding for six months and infections involve several health problems of infants for whom it is established excess risk among infants exposed to smoking in utero or parental smoking," said Isabelle Grémy the Regional Health Observatory of Ile-de-France.

6% of the nicotine levels of the mother

Another study showed that nicotine levels found in nursing infants is only 6% of the nicotine from the mother. In contrast to inhaled nicotine, nicotine intake is absorbed in part and is then degraded mainly by the liver.

Brigitte Fontaine indicated that some women who have failed to quit smoking during pregnancy are able to do for breastfeeding, the presence of the newborn to her being a motivating factor that pregnancy .

All experts agreed to recommend breastfeeding in women smokers, particularly by encouraging information because there are many who give up breastfeeding for fear of the consequences of smoking.

They also insisted that smoking does not cause a reduction in the lactation period, on the contrary.

In addition, the half-life of nicotine in breast milk is 1 hour and a half, women should refrain from smoking for at least two and a half hours before breastfeeding, said Isabelle Grémy.

Experts believe that breastfeeding should be encouraged for women in NRT.

Indeed, studies have suggested that nicotine patches cause 2.5 times lower than those recorded in smoking mothers milk nicotine levels (44 ng / ml against 17 ng / ml) and these rates are gradually reduced with the decrease assays stamps.

About gums and tablets cessation assistance nicotine levels are much less regular with peaks observed just after the catch. "They are recommended provided they are administered after feedings, they should be spaced 2 to 3 hours to minimize the passage into the milk," said Brigitte Fontaine.