WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about the effects of smoking, alcohol, and medicines on breastfeeding? Smoking, alcohol, and medicines can all affect breastfeeding. Harmful substances can pass to your baby through your breast milk. Learn about the ways that these affect breastfeeding so that you can safely breastfeed your baby. What do I need to know about smoking and breastfeeding? Breastfeeding mothers should not smoke. Nicotine goes into your breast milk. Your baby is exposed to these chemicals through breastfeeding and inhaling cigarette smoke. Smoking can also decrease the amount of breast milk you make. Do not use e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco in place of cigarettes or to help you quit. They still contain nicotine. Ask your healthcare provider for information if you currently smoke and need help quitting. How can I decrease the harmful effects of smoking while breastfeeding? If you choose to smoke, it is still best to breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding can help protect your baby from breathing problems and SIDS. You can decrease the effects of smoking by doing the following: - Do not smoke in your home. Go outside to smoke. Do not allow others to smoke in your home.
- Wait to smoke until after a breastfeeding session. The harmful chemicals in your breast milk decrease about 1 hour after you finish smoking.
What do I need to know about alcohol and breastfeeding? Alcohol goes from your bloodstream to your breast milk. The amount of alcohol in breast milk is highest 60 to 90 minutes after you drink alcohol with a meal. Alcohol affects the taste of your breast milk and may cause your baby to drink less than normal. Drinking alcohol regularly or in large amounts can also decrease your milk supply. Alcohol may also affect your child's sleep. How can I decrease the harmful effects of alcohol while I breastfeed? If you plan to drink alcohol, breastfeed your baby first. Wait at least 2 hours after you drink before you breastfeed again. This will allow your body to get rid of the alcohol so the amount in your breast milk will decrease. If you abuse alcohol, you may not be able to breastfeed. Alcohol abuse is when you drink too much alcohol or drink it too often. Talk to your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol while breastfeeding. What do I need to know about medicines and breastfeeding? - Some medicines may go into your breast milk and affect your baby. Certain medicines can decrease your milk supply, make your baby very sleepy, or affect your baby in other ways. Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you use, including over-the-counter medicines. Tell him how often and how much medicine you use. Your healthcare provider can usually recommend other safe medicines, if needed.
- Medicine used during labor and delivery may affect breastfeeding. Your baby may have trouble latching on to your breast for the first 24 hours if you had anesthesia or medicine to decrease pain. To help your baby breastfeed, hold him close to you, with his skin touching yours. You also may need to express milk to feed your baby. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about expressing milk.
- You may need to stop breastfeeding while you are taking certain medicines. You may need to express your milk and dump it out while you use certain medicines. You may need to do this if you take medicines for a short time that may be harmful to your baby. This helps your breasts to keep making milk until you can breastfeed again. If possible, feed your baby stored breast milk until your healthcare provider tells you that it is safe to breastfeed again. Rarely, you may need to stop breastfeeding completely if you need to take certain medicines for a long period of time. You can feed your baby stored breast milk, breast milk from a donor milk bank, or infant formula from a bottle.
What do I need to know about illegal drugs and breastfeeding? Do not breastfeed if you use illegal drugs. Illegal drugs pass from your bloodstream into your breast milk and are harmful to your baby's health. Some examples of illegal drugs are cocaine, heroin, LSD, marijuana, methamphetamine (meth), and phencyclidine (PCP). Where can I go for support and more information? - American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Boulevard
Elk Grove Village , IL 60007-1098
Phone: 1- 847 - 434-4000
Web Address: http://www.aap.org
- La Leche League International
957 North Plum Grove Road
Schaumburg , IL 60173
Phone: 1- 847 - 519-7730
Phone: 1- 800 - 525-3243
Web Address: http://www.lalecheleague.org
When should I seek immediate care? - Your baby has breathing problems, seems more sleepy than usual, or is not breastfeeding well.
- Your baby feels cold, shivers, or his skin looks blue or pale.
- Your baby shows signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, dry skin, fast breathing, or few or no wet diapers.
When should I contact my healthcare provider? - Your baby is 4 or more days old and has fewer than 6 wet diapers each day.
- Your baby is 4 or more days old and has fewer than 3 bowel movements each day.
- Your baby is breastfeeding fewer than 8 times each day.
- Your baby is not gaining weight or looks like he is losing weight.
- Your baby is crying more than usual.
- Your baby is vomiting, or develops a skin rash.
- You have been using illegal drugs and breastfeeding.
- You have been breastfeeding and drinking more alcohol than your healthcare provider says is safe.
- You have been taking medicines that you have been told not to take while breastfeeding.
- You have questions or concerns about breastfeeding.
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