I'm Sick... Can I Still Breastfeed? =(

Yes. I've been breastfeeding my now 10 month-old since birth and have weathered several illnesses (colds, stomach flu, etc.) and my doctor tells me that continuing to nurse him while I'm sick actually helps him build antibodies to whatever I'm battling to help his immune system guard against it. At first it sounded kinda crazy but I've followed that advice and he's been fine through everything. We've both had our fair share of germs passed from one another but I'm happier knowing I'm helping him to ward off bigger germs later on. Good luck!

B. D.

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I 2nd the other mums who are saying Yes!! (as long as you're not taking meds that say "do not take while breastfeeding")

Not only will you be giving him antibodies to your cold...but it's actually MUCH MUCH MUCH better for him to catch YOUR cold then the one from someone at the grocery store. Because, of course, he'll be full of the antibodies for your cold. Our bodies aren't very fair...we stay sick longer when we're nursing because a significant portion of the antibodies we're creating are exiting through our milk.

Remember to be eating extra protein & fats (darn)...like chicken soup, or turkey & extra gravy, or nuts and chocolate, etc., since those (the lipids and proteins, not the bonbons) are the building blocks for our immune system... & Nurse away!

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You can still breastfeed if you're sick. Your body produces antibodies that gets passed onto your infant when you breastfeed. So, it's actually protecting your baby!
The only time a mom should not breastfeed is if she has HIV, AIDS, or is using illegal drugs.
Good job on the breastfeeding. Keep it up!!

1 mom found this helpful

Yes, absolutely, keep on nursing that baby. I nursed for 21 months, through sickness and not, and my duaghter is the healthiest child I know. You pass along your bodies' antibodies through your milk when your body is fighting something off, so keep on keeping on! :)

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You should ALWAYS breastfeed when you are sick. Just make sure you wash your hands really well before. He needs those antibodies and fresh milk is the best, as opposed to frozen or refrigerated. The only time you shouldnt bf is when you are on medication that is harmful to the baby when passed thru your milk. Some medications are fine tho.

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YES, don't stop!

Hope you feel better soon!

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Hi S., Great question! When you're sick your body creates antibodies which your baby will get from your milk. You should definitely keep nursing as even if he gets a cold, it will mild (it IS okay for them to get sick, even good for them, as it builds their immune system. It does not mean you're a bad mom). The formula does not have the antibodies in it and will not help him if he does get sick. Nursing is the best thing you can do for your baby, because he gets antibodies from your milk whether you are sick or not. Even the pumped milk is better than the formula. Feel better soon, and don't worry about taking care of your son the way you think is best!

Hope this helps!

A.

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Best thing to do is keep on breastfeeding. Your little one has already been exposed so you are giving him your antibodies to fight it off. Oh and take a bunch of vitamin C for yourself to fight it off. : )

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Nurse away, S.! It's the best thing you can do. As a matter of fact, while your body is fighting this cold, the antibodies you make are passed to your baby in the milk, so nursing him is actually a better protection from your germs than staying away from him!
Feel better soon! :)

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I have heard that the baby needs the antibiotics from your breast milk, so I suggest you still give the milk. I actually nursed when I was sick and my little girl didn't get sick. Good luck!

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Definitely breastfeed - one of the best things you can do is pass on the immunities your body is building against your illness so your little one doesn't get sick.

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By nursing while you have a cold or virus you actually pass on the antibodies that your body creates to fight off the bug. This gives your baby the ammunition to fight it off and helps to build his immune system. So YES, definately breastfeed when you have a cold! It's the best preventative medicine possible :-)

1 mom found this helpful

Absolutely keep breast feeding! This is better than a flu shot. A small small strain of the virus is present in the breast milk when you are sick, not enough to negatively impact your infant or make him sick, but enought to build his immune system. I breast fed my 14 year old for 14 months and only breast fed my 9 year old for 4 months and the health difference between the two is uncanny. I swear it si because of the breast feeding.

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I'm joining everyone in saying YES, go ahead. It's safe. You'll pass your antibodies (not the illness) through your milk.

When my son was about 5 months old (he's 8.5 yrs old now) I had the WORSE flu. I was on the couch for 3 days because of muscle aches and fatigue. I kept nursing. He wasn't on any formula. He didn't get sick at all.

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I haven't read your other replies, but yes, you can. viruses don't get transferred in the milk, in fact it gives the antibodies to your baby to prevent him from getting it....very amazing indeed.
I hope you feel better. It's always hard to be sick and be mom.

1 mom found this helpful

Please give the baby your milk! It contains a lot of antibodies that will help protect him from your cold and other illnesses.

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dear S.,
your baby was already exposed before you got sick; your milk offers protection, as it creates antibodies on demand, even to things you haven't had. breastfeeding gives you an opportunity to rest with your baby so you can recuperate faster. your baby needs all of you, so enjoy this special time together!
N.

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Dear S.,
One of the best things about breastfeeding is that you pass along immunities to your baby through your breast milk. While understandably we would naturally thing that it's best to keep out distance, you should keep your baby close to you. As your body fights the cold, so will your baby's body. Now if your doctor has put you on antibiotics, you'd want to check if it was okay to continue to breastfeed but I would definitely continue to breastfeed throughout your cold. You're helping your baby develop an immunity to a cold that he won't have to fight on his own in the future. :)
Good Luck and hope you feel better!
K.

1 mom found this helpful

Breastfeed! Your body is making immunities to what you're fighting and you'll pass those on to your baby. It's the best thing you can do for your baby!

1 mom found this helpful

Give him your milk, no matter what it's the best thing for him and it doesn't havfe your germs in it.

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yes, can and should. your body is fighgting the infection right now and your baby'immune system will benefit from exposure to that fight.
Wishindg your fast and full recovery,
V

I have a 16 month old and have nursed him thru my own bout of bronchitis and the stomach flu. You have antibodies in your milk that will build his immune system, rather than hurt him. My son never got sick from any of my illnesses,
and I exclusively breast fed. Congratulations on your beautiful boy! Feel better!

S.,
Congrats on your new babe. Yes, you can still breastfeed. For the most part, your baby is immune, but, even if he gets a cold, he'll be okay; it's all part of the growing and strengthening of his immune system. If you get to the point where you have to take medicine, just ask your doc for a baby-safe med. I had several medicine-requiring infections when I was breastfeeding and as long as the doc knew and prescribed the appropriate med, it didn't phase either of my children. There is a whole book that docs have of meds that are acceptable and unacceptable for pregnant and nursing moms. =0) Drink lots of fluid, increase your vitamins (esp. C), and get as much rest as you can.
Hope this helps! Also, if you don't have the book, What to Expect: The First Year (I think that's the title....it's the partner to What to Expect When You're Expecting), it's a very helpful book with these types of questions.
Be well and happy new year,
L. =0)

Hope you get better soon. Your milk should be fine...the infection is not in the bloodstream and not in the milk. Wear a mask when you breast feed him. Also like others said your antibodies that you develop will be passed on and help him if he does get sick.
H.

yes u can breastfeed...when you're sick you have antibodies that are good for baby that helps fight whatever illness u have..so it's perfectly fine to give baby your breast milk..she will get your antibodies.

Yes, just be careful if you are taking any medications for the cold - you should check with your doctor (or check the medication label) to make sure you can take it while breastfeeding. If it says "do not take while breastfeeding" then either discard the milk you may have pumped while on it, or just don't take it at all. Good luck!! :)

Hello S.,
I breastfed my daughter until she was close to 18 months old. She is now 5. I just continued breast feeding her when I was sick. I never had a stomach flu or anything extremely bad, but I would think a cold and/or sore throat would be ok. I never thought about it at that time. Well, I'm not a doctor or nurse, but I would think it is ok to continue if you have just a cold.
You could put in a quick call to your pediatritian.
I'm interested in what others say! Good luck!
L.

Yes! You should, you will be passing all the antibodies to protect your child. It helps build the child immune system. One of the great benefits to breast feeding.

By all means give him the breast milk! He also is getting the antibodies in it so it'll help him even if he does get sick. The virus won't get to him through the milk, it comes from water droplets from you nose and mouth, from sneezing, coughing, etc. and then him touching what you touched (door handles, etc.) so wash, wash, wash your hands! Hope you feel better soon!

Your milk will not pass on the virus/infection. Even if you have a breast infection it will not be passed on. Drugs you take may be passed on in small doses. Get advice from your doc on those. Your milk is your son's immune system at this point in his life. He needs your milk.

It sounds like you are well past the congageous stage. Get that baby back to breast! :) Hope you feel better soon!

Congrats on your baby!

Yes, still breastfeed. The antibodies should help him fight whatever you have so he doesn't get it too.

YES!!! You can and should still breastfeed!! You don't need to pump, you don't need to supplement. Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for him while you or he is sick.

Also, don't worry if he does get sick - breastfeeding is the best thing you can do to keep him from getting sick or if he does, lessening the severity of it.

I hope you are feeling better soon and congrats on your baby boy!!
M.

S.,

You should breastfeed. Your body is producing antibodies that will pass through your baby through your milk. You are contagious at least 2 days before you have symptoms so your baby has already been exposed. There is no point staying away from him. But your milk may prevent him from getting sick or make his sickness much more mild if he does get sick. The answer to pretty much almost any question on whether to breastfeed or give formula is "breastfeed." Mother nature had all of this stuff worked out long before mankind invented formula. Breast is almost always best (there are some drugs incompatible with breastfeeding but even with most meds, the answer is still breastfeed). All of that milk you've pumped? Feed it to him or freeze it.

T.

Hi S.-

It's a bummer that you are sick. I hope you feel better soon. I always breastfed when I was sick. I was told that the milk has antibodies in it that will protect the baby. Formulas don't have that protection so you should stay away from them.

Feel batter and I hope you have a happy new year!