Millions of women around the world have smoked and successfully breastfed their infants. Becker found that infants who were breastfed by mothers who smoked had higher cotinine levels in their urine than breastfed infants of non-smoking mothers with and without exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
Smoking is associated with shortened duration of breastfeeding and decreased milk volumes.
Women who smoke may breastfeed, but should be encouraged to quit smoking.