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You Can Still Breastfeed
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Breast Problems
Mastitis (breast infection) and breast abscess are not reasons to
stop breastfeeding. Although surgery on a lactating breast is more difficult, the surgery
does not necessarily become easier if the mother stops breastfeeding, as milk continues to
be formed for weeks after stopping breastfeeding.
Mammograms are more difficult to read if the mother is breastfeeding, but can
still be useful. Once again, how long must a mother wait for her breast no longer to be
considered lactating? Evaluation of a lump can be done by other means besides mammography.
Discuss options with your doctor. Let him/her know breastfeeding is important to you. A
needle biopsy, for example, can be done of a lump which is of concern.
New Pregnancy
There is no reason that you cannot continue breastfeeding if you become
pregnant. There is no evidence that this does any harm to you, to the baby in your womb or
to the one who is nursing. If you wish to stop breastfeeding, take your time and wean
slowly.
Infant Problems
Breastfeeding rarely needs to be discontinued for infant illness. Through
breastfeeding, the mother is able to comfort the sick child, and, at the same time, the
child is able to comfort the mother.
- Diarrhea and vomiting . Intestinal infections are rare in exclusively breastfed
babies. (Though loose bowel movements are very common in exclusively breastfed babies).
The best treatment for this condition if the baby gets it, is to continue breastfeeding.
The baby will get better more quickly on breastmilk. The baby will do well with only
breastmilk in the vast majority of situations, and will not require added fluids
except in extraordinary cases.
- Respiratory illnesses . There is a medical myth that milk should not be given to
children with respiratory infections. Whether this is true or not for milk, it is
definitely not true for breastmilk (and breastfeeding).
- Jaundice . Exclusively breastfed babies are commonly jaundiced, even until the 3rd
month, though generally the yellow colour of the skin is hardly noticeable. Rather than
being a problem, this is normal. (There are causes of jaundice which are not
normal, but these do not require stopping breastfeeding). If breastfeeding is going
well, jaundice does not require the baby to stop breastfeeding. If breastfeeding is
not going well, fixing the breastfeeding will improve the jaundice, whereas stopping
breastfeeding even for a short time may completely destroy the breastfeeding. Stopping
breastfeeding is not the answer. (See handout #7 Breastfeeding and Jaundice).
If the question you have is not discussed above, do not assume that you must stop
breastfeeding. Do not stop, and get more information. Mothers have been told they must
stop breastfeeding for reasons too inane to discuss.
This article may
be copied and distributed without further permission
Handout #9. You Can Still Breastfeed. Revised January 1998 About the
Author
JACK NEWMAN
graduated from the University of Toronto medical school as a pediatrician in 1970. He
started the first hospital-based breastfeeding clinic in Canada in 1984 at Toronto's
Hospital for Sick Children. He has been a consultant with UNICEF for the Baby Friendly
Hospital Initiative in Africa, and has published articles on the subject of breastfeeding
in Scientific American and several medical journals. Dr. Newman has practiced as a
physician in Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
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