Can
I breastfeed?
Pregnant women who are learning
about the amazing benefits of breastfeeding, may be asking ‘Can I breastfeed
if……..
·
I have had Covid?
·
If I have been vaccinated against Covid?
·
If I haven’t been vaccinated?
·
If I have Covid now?
·
If I have HIV?
·
If I am on chronic medication?
·
If I have to go back to work?
The good news is a resounding YES
to all of the above, but let’s understand specific circumstances.
If your Covid test is currently
positive, and depending on how well or sick you are, your breastmilk will not
be contaminated with the virus – in fact, your immune system will be making
antibodies that can protect your baby. Unfortunately, because this virus is
airborne, it’s a respiratory infection that’s spread in the air, on hands and
from surfaces. Breastfeeding mothers need to be particularly vigilant when it
comes to wearing a mask and washing their hands, and breasts. If a mom is ill,
during the critical period, it may be helpful for her to express her milk, and
ask her partner/friend to feed her baby. As long as stringent hygiene measures
are taken, EBM (expressed breast milk) can be used. It’s important to keep
breastfeeding so that your breastmilk does not ‘dry up’.
If you have had Covid or been
vaccinated, anti-bodies in your breastmilk will be good for your baby – and
yes, you can breastfeed. (Confirmation by Professor Salome Maswime from Global
Health). If you have not been vaccinated, understand that it’s important to
keep your immune system healthy and to stick to non-pharmaceutical measures to
avoid getting the virus; i.e., social distancing, masking and hand washing.
When it comes to HIV, it’s
important for pregnant and breastfeeding women to keep their viral load as low
as possible by taking Anti-retroviral medication regularly and at the
same time every day. Skipping meds gives the virus an opportunity to
multiply, increase the viral load and interfere with the body’s immune system
and disease control.
Women taking medications for a
number of chronic conditions need to get advice from their specialist /
pharmacist and lactation consultant. It is reassuring to know that many
medications are not harmful to babies. However, mothers who are taking
cytotoxic, radioactive and anti-thyroid drugs (other than propylthiouracil) are
unfortunately, unable to breastfeed.
Rare medical conditions when babies
are unable to tolerate breastmilk are:
- Galactosaemia – This is when galactose collects in the blood. It’s a rare genetic metabolic condition when the baby is unable to metabolize sugar called galactose
- Phenylketonuria – or PKU, is a rare inherited condition that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body
- Maple syrup urine disease – fortunately, this is a rare but serious inherited condition. It means the body cannot process certain amino acids (the "building blocks" of protein) and causes a harmful build-up of toxic substances in the blood and urine
- Breastmilk jaundice – Although this condition is more common, it’s usually not severe. It can begin in the first or second week after birth and usually resolves on its own. Depending on the severity, breastfeeding can continue, but it can sometimes make jaundice worse or last longer than 8 – 12 weeks. Mom may be advised to stop breastfeeding, express and freeze her milk to use later when jaundice has resolved.
Working moms can breastfeed. Depending on her circumstances and working environment, women can arrange to:
• Bring her baby to work
• If there is a nursery close by or at her place of work, she can use her tea and lunch breaks to fit in with breastfeeding schedules
• Express her breast milk at work, refrigerate it for her carer to feed to her baby the following day
• Mom can breastfeed in the morning and again when she comes home from work.
When we understand that
breastfeeding in the first 6 months at least (ideally for the first year)
benefits your baby’s health not only during babyhood and childhood, but can influence
long-term illnesses like hypertension and diabetes in later life, any
inconveniences on Mom’s part is a life-long (never to be repeated) gift for
your child.
