Breastfeeding mom smokes = baby sleeps badly
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Allergies, low birth weight, these are both effects of mom’s smoking with babies during and after pregnancy – in the long-term. But is there any evidence in the short-term that smoking is indeed bad for your baby?
A study published in Pediatrics demonstrates the bad effect of smoking on babies – effect that can be seen immediately. This was observed among breastfeeding, smoking mommies and their babies.
Researchers monitored the sleeping patterns of babies breastfed by moms who are smokers.
The results show that babies which were breastfed right after moms have smoked sleeps poorly. However, when moms abstain from smoking a few hours before breastfeeding, babies sleep longer and better.
So smoking moms, don’t complain about your fussy baby and your state of sleep deprivation. It’s not your baby that is the problem. It’s the nicotine you smoke that goes to the breast milk and is drunk by your baby. In other words, your smoking habit is the problem.
Source:
Mennella et al., 2007. Breastfeeding and Smoking: Short-term Effects on Infant Feeding and Sleep. PEDIATRICS Vol. 120 No. 3 September 2007, pp. 497-502
MrsH says...
Ugh! Nursing moms who smoke? That upsets me.