Breastfeeding is the best way to feed the baby, but it’s not always possible because there are situations where the mother can’t breastfeed because she can pass on illnesses to the baby, because she may need treatment, or because she uses substances that can pass on to milk and harm the baby.
In addition, you should not breastfeed if your baby has any illnesses and cannot digest breast milk.
- If the mother has the HIV virus.
- She should not breastfeed the baby at any time.
- As there is a risk that the virus will pass into milk and contaminate the child.
- The same goes for diseases such as hepatitis B or C with high viral load or situations where the mother is infected with certain microorganisms.
- Or has a nipple infection.
- For example.
If the woman is in the first week of TB treatment, is being treated for cancer with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy or other medicines that go through breast milk and may harm the baby, she should not breastfeed.
If the mother is addicted or consumes alcoholic beverages, she should also not breastfeed because these substances pass into milk, being ingested by the baby, which can affect her development.
If the baby has phenylketonuria, galactosemia or any other metabolic disease that prevents him from properly digesting milk, he or she cannot be breastfed by the mother and should drink special synthetic milk for her condition.
Sometimes women who have had breast silicone or who have had breast reduction surgery may also not breastfeed due to changes in breast anatomy.
When a mother can’t breastfeed and wants to give breast milk to her baby, she can use the nearest breast milk bank.In addition, you can also offer baby-friendly milk powder, following the pediatrician’s instructions.Learn how to choose the best milk, for your baby.
It is important to note that the baby should never be offered pure cow’s milk until the baby reaches the first year of life, as this increases the risk of developing allergies and can also interfere with development, as the nutritional proportion is not suitable for babies of that age.
Also learn how and when to stop breastfeeding.