Is it ok to breastfeed when you are sick..please help!?

Question

I think I may have a real nasty stomach bug or something and I was

worried...( I was having stomach cramps and vomitting last night..I am not sure if it was something i ate or what)can I give it to her via my breastmilk?

Or should I supplement with formula and pump to keep supply up until I am well?

Answer 1

Yes, continue to nurse, DON'T supplement.  Your milk has antibacterial properties which will protect your baby.

Seriously, the only infection that a woman shouldn't nurse with is HIV.

Answer 2

Usually I would say to nurse if you are sick, but since you are afraid it could be possible food poisoning, I am not sure. Here is a site that will answer your questions. www.kellysmom.com

Answer 3

it is a common misconception that nursing mothers can get their babies sick through their breastmilk but unless y6ou have a virus that is transmitted through body fluids like hiv or hepatitis then youre good to keep nursing, in fact its even more important you nurse now bc of the antibodies youre building from this illness will be given to her through your milk, and she will be less likely to get it from you.

also, it's actually more sanitary to just directly nurse rather than pump, bc when you pump, you touch it, etc but when you nurse her directly, she just goes st8 on.

Answer 4

Keep breastfeeding, and do not supplement.

Your stomach bug or food poisoning or whatever it  is will not get into your milk, and will not hurt your baby in any way. (If it's a virus, baby will get antibodies which will protect her from the bug.)

Do wash your hands often and be sure to drink enough fluids to stay hydrated, but there is no reason to stop breastfeeding or supplement with formula.

Answer 5

Keep breastfeeding - if it's a bug, you will be giving your baby the antibodies you have made to it in the breastmilk, and she's much less likely to catch it (even if she does, she has a head start on fighting it off).

Answer 6

do not supplement with formula!!! you can continue breastfeeding, your body has created immunities to fight whatever it is that you have or had and those immunities will be passed on to your baby! even before you knew you were sick your body was fighting off the "bug" or whatever and your baby was receiving the benefits. there are very few sicknesses that require you to stop breastfeeding, mostly communicable diseases like HIV and sometimes sicknesses that require certain prescription medicines.  

Answer 7

Absolutely. As has been said, your breast milk not only not only provides antibodies, but changes to what your baby needs at that point in your baby's life. My daughter is eleven and a half months old. She didn't have her first fever (only 100.something) until last Friday night. The only times she would be consoled was either when we gave her a bath or when she was nursing. At one point, my husband gave me a break and held her and was able to settle her down to sleep. When we told some friends they were rather impressed that our daughter hasn't gotten sick before that. Well, I eat very well, drink almost nothing but water and soy milk (coffee, too, but I make sure I'm hydrated) and don't normally get sick myself. Sunday evening, I discovered her third tooth. With the other two teeth, she just fussed and cried when they broke through.

Last night I had a sore throat and when I got up this morning I felt as though I had something. Now I'm feeling better. I wasn't too worried about my daughter getting sick, despite last Friday night because of my milk. My husband and I refer to it as magic milk. You could give your daughter formula, but she could not like it, she could not like taking a bottle (my daughter didn't when we tried giving her bottles of milk), the formula might not like her... In the end it might just be a waste of time and money. Also, your supply may not stay high if you are just pumping exclusively. The body reads what is needed in supply by the frequency of your daughter's nursing and what's in her saliva. The whole process is truly miraculous.

Answer 8

I agree with everyone, KEEP bfing and don't supplement. If you ever have breastfeeding questions or you are looking for information check out

http://www.kellymom.com

http://www.askdrsears.com

And remember that the world health organization reccomends breastfeeding for AT LEAST 2 years!