Many breastfeeding parents wonder if they can continue nursing when feeling unwell. In most situations, continuing to breastfeed during a mild illness is safe and offers benefits for the baby. Breast milk remains the recommended source of nutrition for infants, even when the parent is sick, and can help protect the baby against the illness.
Continuing to Breastfeed While Sick
When a parent is ill, their body produces specific antibodies to fight the infection. These antibodies are passed through breast milk to the baby, providing a form of passive immunity. This transfer of immune factors helps protect the infant from developing the same illness or reduces symptom severity. Breast milk also contains secretory IgA antibodies, which coat the baby’s gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system, blocking the entry of infections.
Beyond antibodies, breast milk also provides essential nutrients, white blood cells, and enzymes that support the baby’s healing process and overall immune system. The composition of breast milk can adapt in response to the parent’s or baby’s illness, increasing disease-fighting properties. Continuing to breastfeed also offers comfort and hydration, which are particularly important when a baby is unwell. This continuous supply of tailored protection and nutrition helps ensure the baby thrives.
Common Illnesses and Breastfeeding
For common ailments like a cold, flu, or stomach bugs, it is safe to continue breastfeeding. Viruses causing colds or flu do not typically pass through breast milk. Even with COVID-19, current evidence suggests the virus is not transmitted through breast milk, and breastfeeding can continue with appropriate precautions. The benefits your baby receives from breast milk outweigh the risk of them catching the illness.
Practical hygiene measures are important to minimize germ spread. Parents should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after touching the baby or breastfeeding. Wearing a mask when in close contact with the infant, especially if coughing or sneezing, can help reduce airborne transmission. Avoid coughing or sneezing directly on the baby. Maintaining hydration and getting sufficient rest are also important for the parent’s recovery and milk supply.
When to Consult a Healthcare Provider
While breastfeeding is generally safe during most common illnesses, specific situations warrant consulting a healthcare provider. If a parent experiences a high fever, severe symptoms, or a worsening condition, medical advice should be sought. This also applies if there are concerns about medication compatibility with breastfeeding. Most medications are compatible with breastfeeding, but it is important to inform the doctor about nursing when a prescription is given.
Certain infections can be contraindications for breastfeeding. For instance, active, untreated tuberculosis typically requires a temporary pause in direct breastfeeding until the parent has been treated for about two weeks and is no longer infectious. In such cases, expressed breast milk can often still be fed to the infant by another caregiver. HIV status is another consideration; while in some high-income settings, formula feeding is recommended to eliminate transmission risk, in other regions, breastfeeding with consistent antiretroviral therapy is advised due to the benefits of breast milk and reduced transmission risk. Conditions such as human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or II (HTLV-1/2), untreated brucellosis, or the use of illicit drugs are also generally considered contraindications.