Will my illness pass to my baby if i'm breastfeeding?

Question

I'm breastfeeding my new born. I just got some stomach illness. Is it possible for my baby to get the same symptoms just through breastfeeding?

Answer 1

duh of course.

Answer 2

Now that doesn't pass through the breast milk.  The only thing that will pass through is the antibodies your body makes to fight your infection, so actually it is best to breastfeed when you are sick because your baby will get those antibodies and is less likely to get sick.

Answer 3

you're sick. you are most likely the primary caregiver, so there with him 24/7. he will "catch" your germs regardless if you are breastfeeding or not. the BEST thing for him is the antibodies/immunities from your breast-milk...this will ensure that if he does get sick, it will be very mild, and he will get better quicker.

http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/m...

Withholding your breast-milk during an illness increases

the possibility that baby will get sick, and deprives baby

of the comfort and superior nutrition of nursing.

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/sick.html

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/medications.html

http://askdrsears.com/html/2/T028500.asp

http://askdrsears.com/html/2/T028000.asp

Answer 4

During any minor illness such as a cold, sore throat, mild flu, stomach problem, or minimal fever a woman can and should continue to breastfeed. A woman with any of these conditions does not pass the germs to her infant through her milk. In fact, the antibodies a woman creates to combat her own illness will be passed to her baby through her breastmilk, helping to prevent the baby from becoming sick. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Call your doctor and talk to him about it.  If it is a bacteria I dont think so.

Answer 6

your baby will be exposed to the illness just by being around you.  breastfeeding will give your baby the specific antibodies to the illness because your body is producing them.

Answer 7

Generally speaking if mom is sick baby will be exposed to the illness regardless, in fact mom was generally more contagious before symptoms appeared.  Also very few illnesses show up in breastmilk itself.  And the antibodies in breastmilk will protect the baby or shorten the duration of their illness (Whenever I feel like dying and am sick for over a week my breastfeeding babies are sick for like 24 hours if at all).

The one exception is food poisoning that has become so severe it is in mom's blood.  In that case it is occasionally necessary to discontinue breastfeeding for 24 hours -mostly because of the loading dose of certain drugs. But even then the risks of formula and temporary weaning for both mom and baby must be weighed against the risks of treatment that is compatible with breastfeeding/the risks to the infant from mom's medications.

http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/m...

If mom has food poisoning, breastfeeding should continue.  As long as the symptoms are confined to the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps), breastfeeding should continue without interruption as there is no risk to the baby. This is the case with most occurences of food poisoning. If the food poisoning progresses to septicemia, meaning the bacteria has passed into mom's bloodstream (mom would most likely be hospitalized), see this guidance from Dr. Ruth Lawrence:

    "Maternal infections of the genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract do not pose a risk to infants except in the rare circumstances when septicemia occurs and bacteria might reach the milk. Even in this event, continued breastfeeding while the mother receives appropriate antibiotic therapy that is compatible with breastfeeding is the safest course for the infant. If the infecting organism is especially virulent or contagious (e.g., an invasive group A streptococcal infection causing severe disease in the mother), breastfeeding should continue after a temporary suspension during the first 24 hours of maternal therapy. Prophylactic or empiric therapy for the infant, against the same organism, may be indicated." [source: Lawrence RM & Lawrence RA. Given the Benefits of Breastfeeding, what Contraindications Exist?

    Pediatric Clinics of North America 2001 (February);48(1): 235-51.]

The best thing you can do for your baby when you're sick is to continue to breastfeed. When you have a contagious illness such as a cold, flu, or other mild virus, your baby was exposed to the illness before you even knew you were sick. Your milk will not transmit your illness to baby, but it does have antibodies in it that are specific to your illness (plus anything else you or baby have been exposed to) - they'll help prevent baby from getting sick, or if he does get sick, he'll probably not be as sick as you.