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I really would like to bf my baby, but I am worried about how smoking would affect my breastmilk ( and my baby).I mananged to give up smoking with the use of patches 4 months into my pregnancy, but was looking forward to having the odd one or two cigarettes after she is born. I have never been a heavy smoker. Can anyone relate to my problem and if so, what did you do? Thanks.

I am not sure how it will affect your breastmilk, but smoking increases the risks of SIDS. Second hand smoke to non-smokers is a true and valid concern. Even the non-smokers can get cancer, allergies and other health problems from it. If you use the argument that you will go outside to smoke, you will still smell like smoke and the baby will smell like smoke. Since you have quit and have been successful, for your health and the baby you are better off not smoking. I would think that the overwhelmingly desire to stay healthy yourself for the sake of your baby would outweigh the desire to have a cigarette.

Okay, so you've been through the misery of quitting for the health of both baby and yourself, and now you are looking forward to restarting? Argh!! Honey, are you NUTS? I lost my mother at 17 to cancer and all I can tell you is the very, very best gift you could EVER give your child is YOU, hale, healthy and annoyingly present into a ripe old age for every holiday and celebration and all the mundane day to day stuff in between. The best kind of mother is a living one - enough crappy and random stuff can happen to all of us without volunteering to get slapped upside the head by resuming the habit. You aren't alone in this life PARTICULARLY when you have children - you have people who love you and need you and who depend on you, and you have a duty to all of them to do the best you can to stay healthy. I have three kids, and believe me, living to see them all grown up and established has a lot of resonance for me. You cannot believe the agony my mother went through in her last weeks, not being able to do anything about it, and knowing she was leaving my father and a family behind (my brother was only 11). It has been many years, and I still grieve for her. Don't go back there. You've won the battle, don't lose the war. Sorry to get on the soapbox, but holy cow, half a brain should tell you that cigarettes are a scourge. They certainly caused enormous and devastating grief both in my family, and in my husband's family - beyond my ability to describe. Many people we loved would still be here and many who live still would have avoided chronic misery and pain had they been able to quit. Phew! And yes, nicotine etc. does end up in breastmilk. Nothing could be worth restarting. Mary G.

I really would like to bf my baby, but I am worried about how smoking would affect my breastmilk ( and my baby).I mananged to give up smoking with the use of patches 4 months into my pregnancy, but was looking forward to having the odd one or two cigarettes after she is born. I have never been a heavy smoker. Can anyone relate to my problem and if so, what did you do? Interesting how people can't stop from telling you how bad smoking is for you or the baby, as if you didn't know already! Last I've heard on breastfeeding and smoking, it's better to breastfeed while smoking than to formula feed. I quit smoking when pregnant with my first baby and started back when she was no longer breastfeeding. I haven't quit again since(successfully) and had and breastfed two more children. I really do regret starting back. But like I said it's better to breastfeed than formula feed, even when smoking.. Marie

I really would like to bf my baby, but I am worried about how smoking would affect my breastmilk ( and my baby).I mananged to give up smoking with the use of patches 4 months into my pregnancy, but was looking forward to having the odd one or two cigarettes after she is born. I have never been a heavy smoker. Can anyone relate to my problem and if so, what did you do? Thanks. I am not sure what you mean but the odd one or two cigs.  If you can limit yourself to one or two per day, and smoke away from the baby without neglecting the baby, and don't smoke right before you feed (since most milk is produced at time of feeding using current contents of bloodstream), I don't see a short-term breastfeeding problem or breastmilk quality problem coming on.  But a whole lot of people can't limit themselves to a couple of cigs a day; you have to know yourself, and if you start smoking all the time you are going to end up outside lit up when your baby needs you inside and healthy.  I do agree with the posters that if you had to use patches to give it up the first time, why would you tempt yourself?  But I am not in your shoes.  You will sort it out. I have heard people tell me that when they started a vigorous exercise routine or sport, they lost interest in the occasional cig and/or found it unpleasant.