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Can You Smoke Hookah While Breastfeeding?
Best avoided. Hookah smoke contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and toxins, and nicotine passes into breast milk. Why, and where to get support.
If you are breastfeeding and enjoy shisha, it is sensible and caring to ask whether smoking hookah while nursing is safe. The honest answer is that it is best avoided. Hookah, or shisha, smoke contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and other harmful substances, and nicotine can pass into breast milk, so it is not considered safe while breastfeeding. This guide explains why, in a supportive and practical way, and points you towards help and less harmful options if you use nicotine.
Quick answer
Smoking hookah while breastfeeding is best avoided. Shisha smoke contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and other toxins, and nicotine can pass into breast milk. If you use nicotine, speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP, who can support you with less harmful options or quitting.
Why hookah is a concern while breastfeeding
It is a common misconception that hookah is gentler than cigarettes, but shisha smoke still contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and a range of harmful chemicals, often over long sessions. Nicotine can pass into breast milk, and carbon monoxide and second hand smoke are harmful to a baby. For these reasons, smoking hookah while nursing is not considered safe.
What hookah smoke involves
| Component | Why it matters when breastfeeding |
|---|---|
| Nicotine | Can pass into breast milk |
| Carbon monoxide | Reduces oxygen, harmful to mother and baby |
| Other toxins and tar | Produced by the burning and the smoke |
| Second hand smoke | Harmful to a baby nearby |
| Long sessions | Exposure can be greater than expected |
The myth that hookah is harmless
Because shisha is social and the smoke feels smooth, it is easy to assume it is low risk. In reality it is a form of tobacco smoking, with similar harmful components, and the length of a typical session can mean significant exposure. While breastfeeding, the priority is to protect both you and your baby, which is why avoiding it is the recommended approach.
Hookah is not a gentle alternative to smoking. It is tobacco smoking, with nicotine, carbon monoxide and toxins, and it is best avoided while you are breastfeeding.
Myths and facts
| Myth | The reality |
|---|---|
| Hookah is harmless because the smoke is smooth | It still contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and toxins. |
| Hookah does not affect breast milk | Nicotine can pass into breast milk. |
| A short session is fine while nursing | Sessions are often long, and any exposure is best avoided. |
| Only the smoker is affected | Second hand smoke is harmful to a baby nearby. |
If you use nicotine while breastfeeding
If you are finding it hard to stop, you are not alone, and support is available without judgement. Your midwife, health visitor or GP can help you find an approach that protects your baby, which may include less harmful nicotine options or a plan to quit. The general advice while breastfeeding is to avoid nicotine where you can, and professional support gives you the best chance.
Do and don’t
Do
- Avoid smoking hookah while breastfeeding
- Keep your baby away from any smoke
- Speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP
- Ask about support to cut down or quit
Try not to
- Assume hookah is a safe alternative to cigarettes
- Smoke around your baby
- Struggle alone without seeking support
Frequently asked questions
Can you smoke hookah while nursing?
It is best avoided. Hookah smoke contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and toxins, and nicotine can pass into breast milk.
Is hookah safer than cigarettes when breastfeeding?
No. It is a form of tobacco smoking with similar harmful components, often over long sessions.
Does nicotine get into breast milk?
Yes, nicotine can pass into breast milk, which is why avoiding it is advised.
What if I cannot stop?
Speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP, who can support you with less harmful options or a quit plan, without judgement.
Is second hand hookah smoke a problem?
Yes, second hand smoke is harmful to a baby, so keep your baby away from any smoke.
The bottom line
Smoking hookah while breastfeeding is best avoided, because shisha smoke contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and other harmful substances, and nicotine can pass into breast milk. Hookah is a form of tobacco smoking, not a gentle alternative. If you use nicotine and are finding it hard to stop, your midwife, health visitor or GP can offer supportive, judgement free help to protect both you and your baby.
More help and related reading
If this guide raised other questions, the Help and Guidance library has plain English answers to many more. The closely related pages below are worth a look, and you can always return to the main hub to browse every topic we cover. For anything personal or about your own health, a GP, pharmacist, midwife or your practitioner can advise, and a free local stop smoking service can help if you want to reduce or stop using nicotine.
- Are nicotine free vapes safe?
- Can vaping make you sick?
- Can you vape around babies?
- Browse the full Help and Guidance library
Protecting you and your baby
The good news is that small changes make a real difference. Keeping your home and car completely smoke free protects your baby from second hand smoke, and if you do use any nicotine, doing so well away from your baby and changing afterwards reduces their exposure. The bigger step, cutting down or stopping, is something you do not have to tackle alone.
Breastfeeding itself brings real benefits, and wanting to protect that is a great reason to seek support. Your midwife, health visitor or GP can talk through safe options with you, and a free local stop smoking service is experienced in helping new parents, gently and without judgement.
Ways to reduce harm to your baby
| Step | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Keep home and car smoke free | Protects your baby from second hand smoke |
| Avoid hookah while breastfeeding | Avoids nicotine and toxins |
| Seek support to cut down or quit | Gives the best chance of stopping |
| Talk to your health visitor | Tailored, judgement free advice |
| Consider less harmful options | Discuss with a professional first |
A few more questions
Is vaping safer than hookah while breastfeeding?
Vaping is far less harmful than any form of smoking, but the advice while breastfeeding is to avoid nicotine where you can. Speak to a professional.
How long does nicotine stay in breast milk?
It varies, which is why avoiding nicotine is advised rather than trying to time feeds. A health professional can advise.
Where can I get support?
Your midwife, health visitor or GP, and a free local stop smoking service, can all help.
Key things to remember
- Hookah while breastfeeding is best avoided
- It contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and toxins
- Nicotine can pass into breast milk
- Keep your baby away from all smoke
- Support is available without judgement
Putting it simply
The clearest way to think about it is that hookah is simply another form of tobacco smoking, so everything you would avoid about cigarettes while breastfeeding applies to shisha too. The social, smooth nature of hookah can disguise that, but the nicotine, carbon monoxide and toxins are still there.
If you take one thing from this, let it be that support is available and effective. Reaching out to your midwife, health visitor or GP is a positive step for you and your baby, and they will help without any judgement.
Can I be around others smoking hookah?
It is best to avoid second hand smoke too, as it is harmful to your baby, so keep yourself and your baby away from it.
A quick word on safety and the law
Vaping and nicotine products are intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They contain nicotine unless stated otherwise, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products in the UK, and we age verify every order. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.
UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you are breastfeeding and use nicotine, please speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP for support tailored to you and your baby.
Need a hand?
Browse our full library of plain English vaping guides, or get in touch with the team if you have a question we have not answered yet.