Contraindications to breastfeeding baby

Contraindications  to breastfeeding

1.  Breastfeeding:

 has numerous advantages for both the infant and mother. Since it is the main way nature intended for infants to be fed, it should not be surprising that there are few definitive contraindications to breastfeeding that are recommended.

Most mothers should breastfeed infants through common illness such as viral illnesses, cystitis, mastitis, vaginitis, etc. Women presenting with many of these problems have most likely already exposed the infant, and withholding breastfeeding may actually decrease the maternal antibodies and other protective factors in the milk the infant would receive. 

2. The contraindication of the breast feeding in the following conditions:

·       Infants with Special Dietary Requirements:

ü Baby born with jaundice and hyperbilirubinaemia should for the most part be breastfed without interruption. Occasionally, in rare cases of hyperbilirubinaemia breastfeeding may need to be interrupted temporarily.

ü Galatosemia

ü Phenylketonuria – may be partially breast feed

·       Maternal Infectious Disease:

ü Mother has active untreated tuberculosis, T-cell.

ü lymphotrophic virus type 1.

ü Mother is receiving diagnostic or therapeutic radioactive isotopes or has had exposure to radioactive materials.

ü Primaquine and Quinine – contraindicated if either infant or mother has G6PD.

ü Metronidazole – discontinue breastfeeding until at least 12-24 hours after medication.

ü Ciprofloxacin antibiotic treatment.

ü Sulfa drugs – may be a problem in infants with jaundice or G6PD, stressed or premature.

ü Mother is receiving antimetabolites or other chemotherapeutic agents.

ü  Mother is abusing drugs.

ü  Mother has herpes simplex lesions on a breast (the baby may feed from the other breast if free from lesions.

ü Mother is HIV positive.

ü Mother is HepatitisB surface antigen positive.

ü Mother is infected with Hepatitis C virus.

ü Mother is carrier of cytomegalovirus (except for possibly very low birth weight babies).

ü Mother smokes – advise her to give up smoking and not smoke in the home.

ü Mother consumes alcoholic beverages.