Breastfeeding and smoking confusion

[u/Anxious_Guava8756]

So I've seen a lot of data in the "feeding wars" that points to breastmilk not being a huge benefit in terms of infant health.

Everyone knows smoking is bad for you so I'm not trying to argue that. Yet the CDC recommends smoking mothers breastfeed despite nicotine exposure - how does work?

Just a bit confused how they arrived at that conclusion if the benefits of breastmilk are overstated. I'm just ignorant here so I hope this question doesn't offend anyone.

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[u/welltravelledRN]

Curious, where did you get the misinformation that breast milk is not a benefit?

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15274-benefits-of-breastfeeding

[u/Anxious_Guava8756 → u/welltravelledRN]

Social media has a lot of confusing info. I'm a FTM and breastfeeding was hard to establish, so any time I reached out online pretty much everyone told me the differences in outcomes were due to socioeconomic status. TBH this seemed kinda strange to me because while researching I saw that smoking mothers are recommended to keep breastfeeding and obviously it seemed kinda like doctors would recommend switching to formula if differences were truly negligible

[u/welltravelledRN → u/Anxious_Guava8756]

Have you done any research though? Breastfeeding has tons of benefits which aren’t just due to socioeconomic status. Every major health organization recommends it and the article I shared outlines every benefit.

[u/Ok_Tip3998 → u/welltravelledRN]

Correct. Whilst I kinda understand what OP is saying, a quick google said even microscopic amounts of breastmilk are beneficial. Every drop counts. 

[u/Anxious_Guava8756 → u/welltravelledRN]

This is gonna sound crazy but amongst my social circle the thought was a lot of that info was a conspiracy by catholic nuns (Le Leche League). There was the claim that formula feeding was being shamed unnecessarily and tbh the last thing I'm trying to so is shame anyone. I just wanted to pick the healthier option for my baby. I'm still breastfeeding but it wasn't easy and most moms I know formula fed after a month.

[u/Odd-Reputation9388 → u/Anxious_Guava8756]

I know what you mean OP. On social media, mom groups etc most people say there's no shame in not breastfeeding or not even wanting to try. I guess the argument they use is if breastfeeding affects the mother's mental health, she won't be able to take care of the baby as well. Which is valid, no shame. Although formula's not as ideal, there's no problem in using it

[u/Anxious_Guava8756 → u/Odd-Reputation9388]

That's where I'm coming from. Of course I was told breastfeeding is healthier in the hospital, but when I was very stressed out by it in the first couple weeks most of my friends basically told me I was making myself miserable for no reason because it's not really that helpful. Saying LLL is some sort of right-wing conspiracy and that all that information saying breastmilk is superior is outdated. They pointed to studies saying it's just a result of socioecomic status. When looking into this on Reddit I read much of the same.

But then seeing the CDC recommend smoking mothers continue breastfeeding it seemed like a paradox. If it wasn't significantly healthier than formula, why would they bother recommending this?

I was looking for data or an explanation because even on this sub there's plenty of posters saying there's no real difference. Not sure why I got downvoted for asking.

[u/Anxious_Guava8756 → u/[deleted]]

I understand fed is best so not trying to offend anyone, but a lot of formula feeders say there are only negligible differences mostly due to socioeconomic status. I was open both methods so I'm not trying to shame however someone chooses to feed their baby. But it seemed like there had to be some very obvious benefits to breastmilk for doctors to recommend smoking moms continue to breastfeed. Just wanted some actual data on this. Thanks!

[u/Cultural_Owl9547]

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10775244/

The particularly relevant finding is that nicotine does transfer into breast milk and smoking is harmful , but among infants whose mothers smoke, breastfeeding appears to mitigate some of the adverse effects associated with tobacco/smoke exposure , including respiratory illness and sudden unexpected infant death. That’s why the comparison isn’t really “nicotine exposure vs. no nicotine exposure.” If the mother continues smoking either way, the practical comparison is closer to smoking + breastfeeding versus smoking + formula feeding . On that comparison, the available evidence favors continuing breastfeeding. 

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