We saw in the previous topic what are usually the false medical problems that can lead to weaning and also the real medical reasons not to breastfeed In the case of baby problems. Today we will see the mother's diseases that discourage breastfeeding or may make it necessary to temporarily suspend or supplement it.
There are mother's health problems that can advise against breastfeeding. The main one is the HIV, and in countries where a supply of water and milk is assured, it is advisable to stop breastfeeding. That is, in Spain a mother with HIV, in principle, should not breastfeed. On the other hand, in other countries, if there are no guarantees that replacement feeding is safe and sustainable, breastfeeding can be assessed, since the danger of infection is less than the risk of other diseases. In those cases you have to continue with exclusive breastfeeding until six months, without introducing anything else.
Mothers should temporarily stop breastfeeding in some cases, but they can recover it once the problem is solved. These are cases in which a medication contraindicated with breastfeeding is required, although compatible medications can usually be found, especially in cases of depression.
Women who have received high doses of iodine or povidone iodine should temporarily stop breastfeeding, although what should be avoided is the use of this medication whenever possible.
Breastfeeding is also contraindicated in case of herpes simplex in the nipple while it is contagious or when the woman cannot take care of the baby because of a serious illness that prevents her from taking care of it, such as septicemia.
Also, if the mother receives chemotherapy Cytotoxic should not breastfeed during treatment, but in this and other cases, breastfeeding can then be reintroduced. To do this you have to help the mother and inform her about how to maintain production.
In other cases, breastfeeding is not contraindicated but it is necessary to do proper follow-up: hepatitis B or C and tuberculosis.
A mastitis It is not a cause to stop breastfeeding, but when it is enormously painful you can manually express the milk during those days, and then continue normally.
Many times mastitis is confused with breast congestion. In the case of congestion, drug treatment is unnecessary, and can be solved with proper monitoring of suction and some postures that help to decongest the area. Homemade hydrotherapy, hot water before drinking and cold compresses afterwards to relieve inflammation are also useful. Sometimes you can resort to some pain reliever, but congestion can resolve within a couple of days if the mother receives accurate advice.
Mastitis It is a general term that describes an inflammation of the breast. Inflammation may be associated with a blocked duct or possibly a chest infection. A blocked duct occurs when the milk has not flowed well and the duct becomes inflamed. A part of the breast becomes hard and painful. When the blocked duct is ignored and not given proper treatment, it can become a chest infection.
The mother who has a blocked duct will find a hard and painful part in the breast. Sometimes that part of the breast becomes red. The mother who suffers from a breast infection may feel these same symptoms along with general malaise, tiredness and fever.
The treatment for clogged ducts and the infection in the breasts is basically the same. Breastfeeding often helps as much as pain relief to reduce inflammation. Putting on hot damp cloths or taking a warm shower in addition to getting a gentle massage on the chest before breastfeeding can help the breast to empty.
If you have a chest infection it is not necessary to wean. An advice in this regard is a mistake. The infection occurs in the breast tissue, not in the milk. However, the baby is protected by the antibacterial properties of breast milk. It will not get infected if breast.
If the mother's fever does not resolve within 24 hours after implementing rest, wet heat, massage and frequent breastfeeding, and if the mother continues to feel unwell, then it is recommended that she contact her doctor. It is essential to insist that the prescribed medication be compatible with breastfeeding. Commonly used antibiotics and anti-inflammatory or analgesics are compatible with breastfeeding. It is also a mistake that indicates an incompatible medication or insists on weaning.
While the mother is taking the medication she should continue breastfeeding frequently, rest and use the moist heat to accelerate her recovery. In cases where the antibiotic is used, it is increasingly common to perform a previous culture, especially in cases of recurrent mastitis, to succeed with treatment.
Another problem that does not require weaning is the candidiasis. The mother feels intense pain in the nipples and also inside. The sensation is a very painful internal burn during the tetada and also between meals. Sometimes the nipple appears irritated and pink. The baby can have thrush.
Finally, mention must be made of certain substances that pass into breast milk and affect the baby: alcohol, nicotine, opiates and cannabis. In these cases, it is convenient to help the mother to refrain from consuming them while breastfeeding.
In most cases of women smokers there are no signs of affection in the baby immediately, and usually they are women who did not quit smoking in pregnancy, so there are consequences on the health of the baby. No smoking or smoking less is the best recommendation. However, the dangers of tobacco are less than those of artificial lactation. What never, never, should be done, is smoking in the spaces where the baby lives even if it is ventilated later.
Regarding alcohol, it is insisted that it is not consumed, and if it is done, it is done in very moderate quantities and always immediately after the teat, so that the maximum possible time passes from its intake. But in general these substances should not be consumed during pregnancy or during breastfeeding.
Finally we must mention the breast reduction surgery, which was traditionally considered as impossible. However, it is not an issue that should be taxative. A woman who has performed this type of intervention may or may not breastfeed depending on multiple causes.
What most influences the ability to breastfeed is the management of the areola and nipple. The surgeries that have resulted in greater breastfeeding capacity are those where the areolas and nipples were not completely separated, even if they have moved. The most up-to-date surgical techniques involve moving the areola and nipple while they are joined by a piece of tissue called a pedicle, which contains lactiferous breasts, so the woman could breastfeed although her ability may be reduced in this regard.
exist web resources to those who go in case of doubt, where experts will indicate the appropriate pharmacological alternatives or strategies to follow in case of medical problems. In Spain we have the website of the Breastfeeding Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics and the website of the Marina Alta Hospital on risks of medications for breastfeeding.
As we have seen there are medical causes that can force a mother not to breastfeed or to temporarily suspend breastfeeding. They are few, but real. In the other cases, as always, looking for well-trained professionals and support of breastfeeding groups can make the difference between prematurely stopping breastfeeding without wishing to or maintaining it after an exceeded bump.
