Breastfeeding Support
Substances
Substance misuse doesn’t mean stopping breastfeeding. Different substances carry difference risk to infants when passed into breastmilk. Learn below about the impact substances have on your breastmilk.
Marijuana/Cannabis
Using marijuana may allow harmful chemicals to pass from the mother to the infant through breast milk or secondhand smoke exposure. To limit potential risks to the infant, breastfeeding mothers should be advised not to use marijuana or products containing cannabidiol (CBD).
Safe Practices:
- Smoke Outside.
- Keep matches or lighters out of children’s reach.
- Keep all marijuana product hidden out of children’s sight or reach. (Especially edibles!)
Tobacco/E-Cigarettes
Using tobacco or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) while breastfeeding can allow harmful chemicals to pass from the mother to the infant through breast milk or secondhand smoke exposure. Mothers who use tobacco or e-cigarettes should be encouraged to quit. If a mother is unable to quit, breastfeeding still provides numerous health benefits, and breast milk remains the recommended food for an infant.
Safe Practices:
- Quitting is the safest. Call 1-800-QUITNOW for help.
- Do not smoke near the infant.
- Smoke outside.
- Have smoke-free rules for the car and home.
- Change clothes and wash hands after smoking and prior to handling the infant.
Alcohol
Not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers. However, moderate alcohol consumption (meaning up to one drink per day) is not known to be harmful to the infant.
Safe Practices:
- Wait at least 2 hours before breastfeeding baby after consuming alcohol.
- Avoid alcohol the first month of breastfeeding or until breastfeeding is established
- Alcohol intake should be limited to no more than 2 drinks per day. (See below)
