Can a mother breastfeed if she has a cold?

In most cases, it is unecessary to stop breastfeeding when the mother is ill. In fact, it’s healthiest for the baby if she continues to breastfeed! 

During an infectious illness, the mother’s immune system is busy making antibodies to help her fight the infection. These antibodies also get secreted into her milk. So the baby gets these important infection fighting substances by breastfeeding.  If the baby gets these antibodies, they will help prevent the baby from getting sick or help the baby get better faster. In fact, this may be the ONLY useful "medicine" for the common "cold!!!"

Breastfeeding is still fine even if the mother needs to take medications such as: antihistamine, decongestants, cough suppressants (including codeine), acetominophen, or ibuprofen. Keep in mind, though, that pseudoephedrine (a common decongestant) has been reported decrease milk supply so use with caution.

Still OK! Nearly all antibiotics are compatible with breastfeeding, especially for the usual 10 day duration. These medications are considered compatible with breastfeeding. If the baby is very young, it is recommended that you look the medication up in Dr. Hale’s book.

Hale T. Medications and Mothers’ Milk. 9th edition. Pharmasoft Medical Publishing. Amarillo, TX. 2002. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Drugs. The Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals Into Human Milk. Pediatrics.2001;108: 776-789.

reprinted from the Michigan Breastfeeding Network Newsletter September 2003.

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