O/T breastfeeding and smoking rant.

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I just saw on Facebook someone asking when to switch there baby from breast milk to whole milk. I didn't even know this lady breastfed. It makes me upset because I know she is a heavy smoker. My sister breastfed as well and she was a smoker. She was always gloating about how healthy it was for the baby. I wanted to slap her right then and there.

Aww, stupid people.

Well... I personally can't be

Well... I personally can't be around smoke/smokers, which has limited my social life, but even so... I know the previous generation just brushed the ash off of their baby's head while breastfeeding, and other than being the generation of entitlement and the generation of electronic addiction, they did turn out ok.

I am that generation and my

I am that generation and my mother just "brushed" that ash off of me. Lovely for me I get to live with a scar on my right hand because of it.

My whole family are smokers, except me. I refuse to let them touch my BS without washing thier hands first.

It makes me mad to see people forcing toxins into thier baby, who may not be mobile enough to get away. Or in this case has to drink the milk to survive.

Actually, studies have shown

Actually, studies have shown that if the mother is going to smoke it is better to breastfeed and smoke than to formula feed and smoke. The breastmilk helps to offset some of the negative side affects. Of course it's better to not smoke at all.

Do you have a link to this

Do you have a link to this study, I would enjoy reading it. I've read studies to counter this claim.

https://www2.aap.org/breastfe

https://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/PolicyOnBreastfeeding.html

This isn't a study but it's the aap's stance on smoking, saying you should quit but it's not a reason to not breastfeed. As I'm currently breastfeeding DD, I'll find the studies later.

Side note, I'm not a smoker. I just read something about it in one of my breastfeeding books, thought huh and decided to check it out.

" there is strong evidence

" there is strong evidence that breast milk itself provides protection: the incidence of respiratory illness among infants who were breastfed by mothers who smoked was lower when compared with babies who were formula fed."

Still makes me nervous. It's like the lesser is two evils I guess, but I wouldn't risk it at all. I am a heavy caffeine drinker, I quit when I was pregnant and did not resume until after I stopped breastfeeding. My thought process was my BS did not ask to be brought into this world or into my family, he just came. I should respect him as a thrieving human who has rights to his body and nutrition intake. It may sound whacky, but that's how I roll.

I understand your point. I

I understand your point. I just wanted to point out that if a mother isnt going to quit it's better for the baby for her to still breastfeed. Reduced risk of SIDS in comparison to smoking mothers who formula feed too.

Not a smoker, but it's funny

Not a smoker, but it's funny how people pick on smokers but then turn around and feed their kids all kind of crap and use chemicals for personal care and cleaning. All carcinogenic behavior.

^ so true

McDonalds does not have a

McDonalds does not have a warning sign on the side of the bag saying "this product will kill you", unlike a pack of cigarettes. I would rather feed my child a treat every once in awhile over having him consume smokers milk.

Maybe they should, but

Maybe they should, but obviously most people don't eat it all the time.

Cigarette packs say something like 'may cause....', not 'this product will kill you', but I understand what you're saying.

Everything in moderation, except smoker's milk...I would stay away from that.

Actually the warning lable

Actually the warning lable says "smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy".

Really? The 'May' isn't in

Really? The 'May' isn't in there? I thought it was. There are smokers who haven't developed these diseases though, so apparently it's not definite.

I know people who smoked into their 90's and never developed cancer or heart disease...but I guess they are the exception.

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O/T breastfeeding and smoking rant.