Breastfeeding While Sick

Many women ask if it is alright for them to continue breastfeeding while they are ill. Almost always, it is recommended that breastfeeding continue uninterrupted while the mother is sick. However, certain things do need to be considered before you make that decision. For instance, has this illness spread to your blood? What kinds of medications are available? Safety of your child should be your number one concern.

Although it occurs to many women that a common illness, such as a cold or the flu, may spread to baby through the breast milk, that simply isn’t true. Chances are, baby was exposed to your germs long before you became aware of your illness. Do not stop breastfeeding, as that is providing your baby with helpful antibodies. These antibodies will protect him from the germs you are exposing him to.

The same goes for food poisoning. Common food poisoning, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea, will not spread to baby through your milk. People are mistakenly under the impression that what you eat filters directly into making the breast milk. No, breast milk is produced by the mother’s blood. Only in extreme cases of food poisoning would the mother’s bloodstream be infected- she would most likely be too ill to even hold a baby to feed if this occurred.

Make sure your physician is aware that you are breastfeeding. Many medications are compatible with nursing, as very little makes it into the mother’s milk. However, there are some that are harmful, so consult your doctor and/or pharmacist about any medication you are purchasing. Some medicines, while perfectly safe for baby, will reduce the milk supply. If using this medicine for only a short period, things should return to normal afterwards.

Although many of us just feel like crawling into bed and sleeping our illness away, nursing mothers don’t have that luxury. It is hard to be selfless when you feel rotten, but breastfeeding needs to continue, on schedule, or else baby will suffer. Remember, the nurturing and the nutritional benefits may save baby from getting sick as well.