Many mothers find themselves worrying the moment they feel a scratchy throat or a fever coming on. They wonder whether they should continue breastfeeding or if they risk making their infant ill through their milk. In the vast majority of cases, the answer is a resounding yes, you should continue to breastfeed. Most common illnesses, such as the flu, the common cold, or stomach bugs, are not transmitted through breast milk. By the time you realize you have symptoms, your baby has likely already been exposed to the pathogen through respiratory droplets or close physical contact. Continuing to nurse is generally the safest and most beneficial path for both you and your child.
Your Baby needs Your Milk Now More Than Ever
One of the most remarkable aspects of human milk is its ability to adapt to the mother’s environment. When you are exposed to a virus or bacteria, your body immediately begins producing specific antibodies to fight off that exact pathogen. These antibodies are then secreted directly into your breast milk. This means that while you are fighting the illness, you are simultaneously providing your baby with a customized internal shield that helps them either avoid the illness entirely or experience a much milder version of it. This biological feedback loop is one of the primary reasons health organizations recommend against stopping breastfeeding during a typical illness. Your baby is also constantly communicating with your immune system through what’s known as backwash or retrograde milk flow. That’s when a baby's saliva, containing pathogens from their mouth, flows back into the mother's nipple ducts during nursing, signaling the breast to produce custom antibodies and immune cells, making breast milk an adaptive medicine that directly fights the specific infection.
Potential Changes To Your Milk Supply
It is important to be prepared for the fact that your milk supply might experience a temporary dip while you are unwell. This change is usually not caused by the illness itself but rather by the physiological strain on your body. When you are sick, your body diverts its primary energy and resources toward healing and immune defense, which can leave less energy for milk production. Additionally, dehydration and a lack of appetite can contribute to a lower volume of milk. If you notice your breasts feel softer or your baby seems a bit more frustrated at the breast, try not to worry. Once you begin to recover and return to your normal eating and drinking habits, your supply will typically bounce back to its previous levels.
Prioritizing Rest And Hydration
Coping with an illness while caring for an infant is an exhausting feat that requires a shift in your daily priorities. The most effective way to maintain your milk supply and speed up your recovery is to focus on rest and hydration. Since breastfeeding burns a significant number of calories and utilizes a large amount of water, you must be proactive about drinking fluids. Keep a large bottle of water, tea, or electrolyte drinks at your bedside and try to sip them often throughout the day. This is the time to let the laundry pile up and ask for help with household chores so that you can remain in bed with your baby, practicing skin-to-skin contact and nursing as often as the baby desires.
When Breastfeeding Is Contraindicated
While breastfeeding is the gold standard for infant nutrition, there are specific, rare medical conditions where nursing is discouraged to protect the health of the infant. In developed countries where safe alternatives like infant formula and clean water are readily available, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, also known as HIV or AIDS, is a primary contraindication due to the risk of virus transmission through the milk. Other conditions that require a mother to avoid breastfeeding include being infected with Human T-lymphotropic virus type I or type II. Mothers who have untreated, active Tuberculosis should be temporarily separated from their infants but may often provide expressed milk once they are no longer contagious. Furthermore, if a mother has active Herpes Simplex lesions on her breast, she should avoid nursing from that side until the sores have healed.
Using Medications Safely during Lactation
If you require medication to manage your symptoms, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional or a lactation consultant. Many over the counter medications for colds and flu are safe to use while breastfeeding, but some contain decongestants like pseudoephedrine which are known to significantly reduce milk supply. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are generally considered compatible with nursing for pain and fever management. Always double check any prescription or herbal remedy to ensure it does not pose a risk to your baby or your breastfeeding. By staying informed and taking care of your own body, you can continue to provide the best possible nourishment and protection for your little one even when you are not feeling your best.
