Should You Breastfeed if You’re Sick?

By Laura Silvas, RN IBCLC

Breastfeeding is hard work. Our days revolve around the last time we nursed/pumped, how long until the next breastfeeding/pumping session, and whether or not your baby has produced enough diapers that day. Then, when we least expect it, we wake up with a cough or catch a cold from our children. So now, what do we do to protect our infant from illness?

Continue breastfeeding or pumping. Simply put, continuing to breastfeed or pump during an illness will help prevent your infant from becoming sick. This is because, in the magical breastmilk that your body produces, white blood cells (that help fight infection) and antibodies (produced by white blood cells to target specific infections) pass to the infant. So, by nursing or providing pumped milk to your baby, they are actively fighting against the illness.

In some instances, it may be your infant who has a runny nose or cough. In these cases, even if you are not showing any signs of illness, with the exposure of bacteria from the baby’s mouth to your nipple, your body also activates the white blood cells and antibodies to help heal your baby. Breastfeeding, therefore, plays a dual role in protecting the mother and her infant against infection.

Very few illnesses restrict mothers from providing breastmilk to their infants. However, one common misconception is that it is not safe to nurse if you are running a fever. Old wives’ tales such as this can discourage and even scare mothers from breastfeeding when it is perfectly safe to do so. If you have any concerns regarding your diagnosis and the risk of transmission to the infant, reach out to your health care provider.

One important consideration that impacts breastfeeding or pumping while sick is the medications you can take. Some medications pass through your breast milk to the infant, while others may impact your milk production. Kindly remind your health care provider that you are breastfeeding before taking any new prescriptions. Calling your health care provider, reaching out to the infant risk center, or getting in contact with a lactation consultant before taking any over-the-counter medications or home remedies is also recommended.