CONTRAINDICATIONS Of Breast Feeding
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for newborn but there are certain conditions where it is contraindicated. This blog will guide about some common problems:
What are conditions in which breast feeding and expressed milk is absolutely contraindicated?
There are certain maternal infections like active HIV infection and AIDS, Ebola virus or T-cell virus infection, mothers taking cocaine or phencyclidine, baby having enzyme absence or defects of glucose metabolism (galactosemia).
What are temporary contraindications to both breast and expressed milk?
- Vaccine of smallpox and yellow fever
- Drugs like alcohol, tobacco marijuana
What are conditions where direct breast feeding should be stopped but expressed milk could be given?
These are conditions where direct contact of mother with baby should be avoided
- Active Tuberculosis (TB)
- Chicken pox
What are drugs where breast feeding should be avoided?
- All the anticancer drugs (chemotherapy), radiotherapy, immunotherapy
- Iodine used for thyroid malfunction treatment
- Anti-arrhythmic heart medicine, Amiodarone
- Oral retinoids for acne or skin diseases
- Anti-depressant, Lithium
- Gold salts
Which recreational drugs are secreted in milk?
Alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine are secreted in breast milk and can cause extreme irritability, tremors, vomiting and diarrhea in the baby.
What are effects of diazepam?
It also comes in the breast milk and affects the baby. There is excessive irritability, inability to suck, fits, jaundice, and grey skin (grey baby syndrome).
Does caffeine come in breast milk and affect newborn?
Yes, caffeine also goes into breast milk in large amounts making a newborn hyperactive, irritable, and cause excessive crying and difficulty in sleeping.
What other drugs enter in breast milk?
- Diazepam
- Flagyl
- Ergot
- Antibiotics tetracycline, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and nitrofurantoin
Are there any foods to be avoided during nursing?
A nursing mom should eat a healthy balanced diet, there is no specific food that should be avoided.
Are there any food sensitivities in a newborn on breast feed?
Rarely, some babies have allergies to food that a mom eats which could be picked if a mother keeps a record of what she eats and how is the behavior of baby? Common food allergens are diary, egg, and wheat.
If a baby is suspected to have allergy to milk protein, then nursing mother has to stop all dairy products for at least 2 weeks till all milk proteins are removed from the body and then note a difference in baby.
Should a nursing mom stop feeding during common cold?
Breast feeding should always be encouraged. However mother should practice frequent hand washing and using a face mask covering mouth and nose.
Could a mother with hepatitis feed her baby?
Mothers with Hepatitis could breast feed, but babies of mothers with Hep B virus infection should be vaccinated first.
What if there is an open wound or cuts on nipple?
Improper latching result in cracked nipples. Nursing mother should stop direct feeding, breast milk could be extracted by breast pump and resume feeding once wounds are healed.
Remember, always seek guidance of a doctor before taking medicines during nursing period. Similarly, direct breast feeding could be discontinued temporarily during various illnesses, but it could be started after a time interval upon recovery.
Dr. Ayesha Azam Khan