Breastfeeding through infection: Risks to baby

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Infections of the breast are very rare during pregnancy but unfortunately they are more frequent after delivery and during lactation or breastfeeding.

It’s safe to breastfeed your baby during common illnesses such as colds and flu.

But it depends on what is causing the cold or flu symptoms. If for example the cause is a cytomegalovirus. Breastfeeding will be dangerous to the baby.

Mastitis (an infection in the breast), thrush, cracked nipples, breast abscesses, Milk stasis (Milk stasis is when a milk duct is blocked and cannot drain properly)

Does not pose any risk to your baby. But there are a few situations, however, in which breastfeeding is not advised.

1. Contagious pulmonary tuberculosis: this infection can be very dangerous to the baby’s health if the mother does not undergo complete treatment. But Breastfeeding can be continued as soon as the mother has undergone treatment and is no longer contagious.

2. Herpes simplex: There are two different Herpes Simplex strains:

Herpes I - generally produces cold sores on the lips and mouth

Herpes II – is generally genital lesions.

Breastfeeding is safe if there are no lesions on the breast. But if there are lesions, they must be well treated, and since Herpes sores are spread through contact, the mother should cover her breast and must be careful to avoid direct contact on baby’s mouth or food. In other words, she should always wash her hands.

3. Chicken pox: If you have chickenpox, avoid contact with other pregnant women and new babies until at least five days after the rash appears, or until all the blisters have crusted over. It is advisable to separate mother and baby from each other and the baby should be nurtured by another individual during the mother’s period of infectivity. The baby will be offered varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG). Breastfeeding is safe as soon as the mother is noninfectious, meaning all spots are crusted over.

4. Hepatitis A: Breastfeeding is safe after the mother receives a dose of gamma globulin.

5. Lyme disease: Lyme disease is caused by a microorganism known as a spirochete, which is carried by ticks. There is no research documentation confirming the presence of the spirochete in human milk or transmission by breastfeeding, to be absolutely safe, if a mother is suspected of having acute Lyme disease, she should stop breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is safe as soon as the mother initiates treatment.

6. HIV infection or HTLV-1: Breastfeeding is not recommended if a woman is infected with HIV, there is a chance that her baby also will become infected with HIV during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. HIV transmission through breast milk is more likely among mothers with advanced disease, reflected in low CD4+ cell counts.

7. Hepatitis B: Breastfeeding is safe after the baby receives a dose of Hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG). The baby should also be started on the first of three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine.

If a woman is diagnosed with HBV, her infant should receive the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 48 hours of birth, as soon as possible thereafter. Subsequent doses of the vaccine should be given with routine childhood immunization at one month and six months of age. There is no vaccine for the prevention of HCV infection.