Breastfeeding While You’re Sick- Things You Should Know

 

Motherhood requires you to be on your toes 24/7. There are no sick leaves, weekends or holidays for a mother. She has to take care of the little one at all times, attending to his/her needs and if she is a breastfeeding mother then the responsibility is even tougher than ten fold. But all this becomes even harder when the mother feels under the weather and she can’t take time off to rest, recover and unwind. Breastfeeding is the last thing a mother might want to do while she is sick due to tiredness and concern that she could somehow transfer her illness to the baby and make him/her sick as well.  She might also be worried about the adverse effects of the medicines penetrating her milk or a general dip in milk supply which can be boosted with lactation cookies.

Is It Safe to Nurse While You’re Sick?

A simple, uncomplicated answer to this question is a Yes! A mother can feed her little one normally through any common illness like cold and flu, diarrhoea, fever, vomiting or mastitis. The baby won’t be exposed to any illness via your milk and neither will it affect the milk supply but if you do feel a drop in the milk supply boost it with lactation drinks and treats. Breastfeeding has been and still is the best source of nourishment for the child which is irreplaceable by any other food source. If the mother feels too tired or sick to sit up and nurse, she can always express her milk and feed from the bottle but they don’t give up on breastfeeding.

Why should the Mother Continue Feeding Despite She Being Sick?

Contrary to popular belief, breastfeed doesn’t have a little bit of everything from the mother’s body. It’s a complex and convoluted system where only the best, most nutritious things from the mother’s body filter through her milk and reach the baby. In fact, breastfeeding the baby while being sick can even have some positive effects, believe me. When you are sick with a viral infection your body builds up resistance against it by making antibodies, these antibodies reach the baby and also make him resistant against these viral infections. Of course, there can be some exceptions in this system so let’s read on which illnesses have what effect on the mother’s milk and the child.

Stomach Viruses

Stomach viruses or illnesses like vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea are common which can happen if the mother eats something unhygienic or due to a gastrointestinal tract infection. It is a very uncomfortable state for a mother as she can feel tired, dizzy and weak after continuous retching and motions. But stomach viruses cannot travel through the breast milk and reach your baby. But the good and fun part is that the antibodies made by the mother’s body will surely reach the baby and protect him/her from encountering and fighting it in the future. Studies have also shown that breastfeeding infants generally get sick less often and even if they get sick their recovery rate is much higher than a bottle-fed baby. A mother dealing with any sort of stomach disease must rest, eat and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. She can also enjoy lactation drinks to have dual benefits.

Cold and Flu

Having a cold and flu means constant sneezing, coughing and wiping of the running nose. There are little to no chances of your baby catching a cold or flu via breast milk but he/she can surely encounter it with water droplets from a sneeze or cough. Be sure to wash your hands before you breastfeed, cover your nose and mouth sneezing and coughing and if the symptoms worsen then express your milk.  All these are especially true and beneficial with the ongoing Coronavirus which has spiked the concerns of all the mothers. Well, one thing is for sure that if there’s something that can help your little one to fight against this deadly virus then it’s the mother’s milk which is packed with nutrients, anti-bodies, vitamins and minerals that boost the immune system of the baby and helps him fight against anything.

Can My Sickness Affect my Milk Supply?

Yes, it can, if you become too lethargic and start skipping your nursing sessions. As we all know that the milk production is dependent on how much milk is drawn from the breasts. If the previous milk is still in the breasts then the body won’t make new milk thus reducing the milk supply. You can also boost the milk supply with lactation cookies and lactation drinks. So, if you’re too tired to sit up a nurse then express your milk and ask your partner to feed through a bottle but you must empty your breasts as it can lead to further problems.

Summing up

Being sick is underwhelming in itself and when you top it off with worry of your child’s safety things become worse. But rest assured you’re good to nurse your child and give him/her the amazing quality of antibodies that will help the baby to fight these sicknesses in future.