Buzz
Breast milk is an indispensable and vital source of nutrition for the development of young children. When the mother or the baby is unwell, the decision to breastfeed becomes a matter of great concern for many mothers.
1. When the child is unwell
When a child is suffering from an illness, some mothers hesitate to breastfeed due to the child's reluctance, potential vomiting, or diarrhea. Many mothers believe that refraining from breastfeeding will prevent digestion issues. However, stopping breastfeeding during the child's illness can lead to nutritional challenges and contribute to malnutrition.
The antibodies present in breast milk provide essential protection for the child.
Therefore, when a child is unwell, mothers should encourage breastfeeding with increased frequency and quantity. In such cases, breastfeeding is crucial for the child's health recovery, as breast milk is the easiest to digest for infants and can help alleviate diarrhea.
– For infants below 6 months old, it's crucial to continue breastfeeding and encourage more frequent feeds.
– For infants over 6 months old, it's still essential to continue breastfeeding.
If a child experiences frequent diarrhea, provide oral rehydration solution along with breastfeeding. In the initial days, offer easily digestible and light foods, dividing them into 5-6 small meals per day. Later, gradually increase food intake, emphasizing energy and protein-rich foods for normal development. Ensure the child drinks more water after recovery.
2. When the mother is unwell
When a mother is afflicted by an illness, some mothers tend to stop breastfeeding, fearing the transmission of the illness to the child. However, in most cases, this is unnecessary. For common infections, continuing breastfeeding doesn't increase the risk of the child getting sick because the antibodies in breast milk provide necessary and optimal protection. Specific diseases such as HIV, progressing tuberculosis, or severe heart failure are exceptions where mothers should refrain from breastfeeding.
Considerations when the mother uses medication while breastfeeding:
– When a mother is dealing with an illness, using medication requires extreme caution and consideration. Most medications, despite their minimal concentrations, enter breast milk. Note that some medications may impact the child and have the potential for side effects. In reality, very few cases necessitate mothers to cease breastfeeding when using common medications like fever reducers, pain relievers, antibiotics, or vitamins.
– In some instances, mothers are advised against breastfeeding when using cancer treatment drugs or undergoing radiation therapy. Medications, especially those for mental health or anti-seizure purposes, may require temporarily discontinuing breastfeeding. Antibiotics that breastfeeding mothers should avoid include chloramphenicol, tetracycline, metronidazole, and sulphonamides. Mothers must absolutely refrain from using medications that reduce milk production, such as diuretics and estrogen-containing contraceptives. TTUT.BS. NGUYEN VO HINH
