Getting sick is no fun. It can especially be difficult if you have a young baby to look after. If you are breastfeeding, you may worry about how your illness could affect it. You may worry if you can keep breastfeeding while sick. You may worry how any medications you take might affect breastfeeding. You might be worried about passing an infection to your baby. Unfortunately, too many mothers have been incorrectly advised to stop breastfeeding when sick. Even well meaning healthcare professionals might incorrectly advise a mother to stop breastfeeding. Here are 6 things you should know about breastfeeding during illness.
#1: Few Illnesses Preclude Breastfeeding
There are very few illnesses that necessitate stopping breastfeeding. For example, HIV is one disease that precludes breastfeeding in developed countries. However, for most common illnesses such as cold, flu, gastroenteritis, mastitis etc, breastfeeding can continue.
#2: There Are Few Medications That Preclude Breastfeeding
When seeing a doctor for illness, it is important to remind your doctor that you are breastfeeding. This way, you can be prescribed something that is most compatible with breastfeeding. There are many medications that breastfeeding mothers can safely take. For the medications that are not recommended, there are usually alternatives that are safe. The decision about whether or not to stop breastfeeding, even for a short period of time, to take a medication is more complex than just whether your baby will get any of it passed onto her through your breastmilk. It is also important to take into consideration the risks of not breastfeeding, even for a short period of time, for both the mother and her baby. A helpful resource for breastfeeding mothers and their doctors is the InfantRisk Center which provides up-to-date evidence-based information about the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. There is also the free Apple LactMed App for iPhone/iPod Touch and Android devices. It can help you find information about maternal and infant drug levels, possible effects on breastfeeding and on breastfed infants, and alternative drugs to consider. You can find out more there.
#3: You Can Reduce The Chance Of Your Baby Getting Sick
Most illnesses (e.g. a cold, flu and most cases of gastroenteritis) are due to viruses. When you are sick with a virus, your baby would have been exposed to the virus before you even developed symptoms. Breastfeeding will not give your baby the illness but rather it can help to reduce the chance of your baby getting sick. When you are sick, your body makes antibodies to help you fight the specific virus. Through your breastmilk, these antibodies get passed on to your baby. In this way, breastfeeding can help prevent your baby from getting sick. If she does happen to get sick, she will most likely not be as sick as you. In fact, as infectious disease specialist, Dr Stephen Buescher, explains in his Anti-Inflammatory Characteristics of Human Milk podcast, breastfed babies may have asymptomatic infections (that don』t show any signs of inflammation) because of the anti-inflammatory factors in breastmilk which can turn acute-inflammatory cells (eg neutrophils) off.
#4: Your Supply May Be Affected
Some mothers who have a febrile illness notice a temporary supply drop. Typically, the drop is not dramatic enough to necessitate any supplementation and it usually will increase again quickly when you feel better. There are some reasons that can contribute to affecting a mother’s supply when sick. For example when a breastfeeding mother is sick: She may not breastfeed as often as she usually would There are some medications that she may take (perhaps inadvertently) which can cause her supply to drop Hence, to avoid a decreased milk supply, it can help to continue to breastfeed often and avoid any medications that tend to decrease milk supply if possible.
#5: Breastfeeding Can Give You A Chance To Rest
Breastfeeding can give you many opportunities to sit or even lie down when you are sick. This can mean that there are many opportunities to rest when your little one shows cues she’s ready to feed.
#6: Drink Plenty Of Fluids To Help Prevent Dehydration
It is usually recommended that a breastfeeding mother drinks to satisfy her thirst. Research has found that even during religious fasting, breastfeeding mothers maintain their supply. However, when sick, it is important to drink more fluids to prevent dehydration especially since severe dehydration may lower your supply. If you happen to get very dehydrated and notice a supply drop, there are many ways to boost it back up again. Speak with an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor or La Leche League leader or see a lactation consultant. … In most cases when you are sick you can keep breastfeeding. Drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent dehydration. Continuing to breastfeed often will help maintain your supply and help your baby to stay well.
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