If you have a cold or flu, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting, or mastitis, keep breastfeeding as normal. Your baby won't catch the illness through your breast milk – in fact, it will contain antibodies to reduce her risk of getting the same bug. “Not only is it safe, breastfeeding while sick is a good idea.
What illnesses can be passed through breast milk?
The concern is about viral pathogens, known to be blood-borne pathogens, which have been identified in breast milk and include but are not limited to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), West Nile virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV), and HIV.
Can babies get sick through breast milk?
Common illnesses such as cold or diarrhea can't be passed to the baby through breast milk. If the mother is sick, antibodies can be passed to the baby to protect the baby from getting the same illness as the mother.
Can diseases be transmitted through breast milk?
Some diseases can indeed be transmitted through breast milk. However, it is worth remembering that the benefits of breastfeeding in the child are still higher than the likelihood of the risk of infection of some diseases. Therefore, breast milk should still be given.
Can You breastfeed if you have a serious illness?
Serious Illnesses and Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding may even help prevent the spread of hepatitis C from the mother to the baby, by providing antibodies passed to the baby through the breast milk. Other types of infections need to be evaluated by your obstetrician, pediatrician, or family physician, but few will prevent breastfeeding.
What should I do if I am too sick to breastfeed?
If a mother is too sick to feed her infant at the breast, if possible, expressed breast milk should be fed to the infant by a healthy caregiver who does not have flu. Whenever a mother expresses her breast milk, she should wash her hands well with soap and water and, if using a pump, follow recommendations for proper cleaning.
Can colds and flu pass through breast milk?
Cold and flu viruses do not pass through breast milk. Certain more serious diseases such as HIV, HTLV-1 or brucellosis (a rare bacterial infection) do pass through breast milk and you should talk to your healthcare provider if you have been diagnosed with these illnesses. Does being sick affect my milk supply?
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