Mother's Smoking or Tabacco Use

• It is best to avoid tobacco; however, the benefit of giving your baby your milk generally outweighs the risks of tobacco use.
• The nicotine and its byproducts pass into the milk and may cause restlessness, increased heart rate, and loose stools. Heavy tobacco use (over ½ pack per day) can decrease your milk supply and affect letdown
• When used as directed, smoking cessation aids pose no more problems for the breastfed infant than smoking.
• If you smoke, do not smoke around your baby.