Reasons for not Breastfeeding

(449 Words)
Breastfeeding is undoubtedly best for babies. According to Kids Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) all recommend it as best. In most cases, mothers can successfully breastfeed their babies; however, occasionally mothers could or should not breastfeed. Mothers should understand these rare instances so that they do what is best for their babies.
When a mother has a disease that can be sent through breastmilk, she should not breastfeed. HIV is one such disease. Any HIV-positive mother should never breastfeed. Another disease that can be contradictive to breastfeeding is untreated tuberculosis (TB), according to News Medical. There are other diseases that could be an issue, so mothers should talk to the doctor if they have concerns about a specific condition.
You should also check with the doctor about any treatments that you are on that would make it unwise to breastfeed. For instance, those who are getting chemotherapy for cancer should not breastfeed.
Many medications pass into breastmilk, and some of these can negatively affect the baby. The medical information that comes with medications will typically share some information on breastfeeding. In many cases, you can choose an alternative medication that would be appropriate to use while breastfeeding. If you have no choice but to take the medication, however, and it is dangerous to breastfeed, then of course you should not do so. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication to find out if it can be taken while breastfeeding.
Of course, you should not breastfeed if you are using illegal drugs since these too can pass to the baby through breastmilk; they even can cause an addicting in the baby. Of course, the solution in that case is to stop using illegal drugs. You should also avoid drinking when breastfeeding.
In very rare cases, children can have a condition called galactosemia; these children cannot tolerate breastmilk because they can’t break down its sugar. Children may show mental retardation, malnutrition or liver issues.
Many mothers assume that their babies are allergic to their milk when they just have a problem with something specific that the mother is eating. Sometimes identifying and taking that food out of the mother’s diet is sufficient. Talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about allergies.
Many mothers have difficulty breastfeeding and mistakenly assume that they cannot do it or are not producing enough milk. In reality, this is rarely the case. Most of the time, mothers will be able to successfully breastfeed if they keep up with it. A lactation consultant can help mothers get through rough times and will often make breastfeeding possible.