Nicotine In Breast Milk Disrupts Infants’ Sleep Patterns

In an article published in 'Pediatrics' lead author, Julie A. Mennella, PhD, a psychobiologist at Monell states “Infants spent less time sleeping overall and woke up from naps sooner when their mothers smoked prior to breastfeeding,” While many women quit or cut down on smoking while pregnant, they often relapse following the birth of the baby. Mennella omments, “Because nicotine is not contraindicated during lactation, mothers may believe that smoking while breastfeeding will not harm their child as long as the child is not exposed to passive smoke. However, there has been very little research on either short- or long-term effects of nicotine delivered through breast milk.”