Breast-Feeding a Sick Baby
Topic Overview
If your baby becomes ill or develops a minor viral illness, such as a cold, flu, or diarrhea, it is best to continue your Reference breast-feeding Opens New Window routine. Breast milk provides your baby with the best possible nutrition.
If your baby is too ill to breast-feed, try Reference cup-feeding. With this technique, you feed your baby collected breast milk. Take your baby to visit a health professional if he or she eats very little or not at all.
Even if your baby does not have much appetite or is in the hospital on Reference intravenous (IV) Opens New Window fluids, use a pump or hand express your milk on your normal schedule. This will help to maintain your milk production until your baby's appetite returns.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference April 14, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Kirtly Jones, MD, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
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