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Is it safe to breastfeed when sick?

Maddi - posted on 09/04/2010 ( 57 moms have responded )

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I just got sick with a cold/strep throat and I've been breastfeeding her since I got sick (so only for a day or so) but I'm worried it's going to get her sick, do you think it's too late? All my friends have said they gave their babies formula instantly when they got sick but I don't want to exclusively give her formula. Or they said they were too tired and sick to nurse their babies, I rather stay up and be sick longer so I can breastfeed her. But, is it really bad to breastfeed when sick?

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Dora - posted on 09/04/2010

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If anything I believe it will strengthen your babies immune system. I know when I was breastfeeding my son, 2wks after I gave birth to him I came down with a high fever caused by lymes disease as I was just bitten by a tick. Till this day I still don't know how it happened but my doctors thinks my dog brought the tick into my house. Anyway the pediatrician said it will not cause my son any harm and she was right.

Sheila - posted on 09/04/2010

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keep breastfeeding it will protect your baby

Teresa - posted on 09/04/2010

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Breastfeeding while you are sick is actually the best way to KEEP your baby from getting sick. :)

Katrina - posted on 09/04/2010

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Do not stop bf your child when you're sick. Thanks to bfing my 3 they either never got it or only mildly got it at best. Kira was 3 mos old when we all got H1N1 in Sept 09. She barely got a drippy nose that lasted a couple days. Granted it was mild for all of us but hers was the mildest. We thought we only got a head cold as it was. It wasn't until we were offered the shot in Dec at Kira's 6mo apt that we mentioned our symptoms and she said it was H1N1. If your child does get sick it helps them deal with it better too. As said before, you're giving them antibodies in your milk. I got better quicker as well because having to stop and bf my kids made me have to stop and rest. Let everything but the most important things go for a couple days and take care of yourself and baby.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/04/2010

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Exactly what Sarah said. It's worse to stop nursing because then baby doesn't get the anitbodies to help fight off what you have. Keep nursing and baby may not get sick at all or if she does it will be less severe and shorter in duration.

Jennifer - posted on 09/04/2010

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Sarah is spot on! keep on nursing!

Sarah - posted on 09/04/2010

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Actually, I believe it's better for the baby to be nursing while you're sick. Your body produces anti-bodies for that particular illness and those are passed along in the breastmilk to the baby. There is less of a chance of your baby getting sick, and, if she does, she probably won't get as sick b/c the anti-bodies for that sickness are already in her system.

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

Beth - posted on 09/13/2010

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It is not bad to breastfeed when sick at all because shes getting antibodies to the strep bacteria thru your milk. She has already been exposed to the bacteria but wont hurt her at all, although watch for thrush and yeast infection if u end up on antibiotics

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