Diseases That Affect Breast-Feeding

Most women with chronic illnesses or infectious diseases can Reference breast-feed Opens New Window.

• Women with Reference diabetes Opens New Window usually can breast-feed but may need to follow a special diet. They may be able to lower their insulin doses while breast-feeding, because their blood glucose is being used for milk production.
• Women with Reference cystic fibrosis Opens New Window or Reference phenylketonuria (PKU) Opens New Window must have their milk and their infant's health monitored when breast-feeding.
• In most cases, breast-feeding is possible when the mother has Reference hepatitis A Opens New Window, chronic Reference hepatitis B Opens New Window or Reference hepatitis C Opens New Window, or Reference cytomegalovirus Opens New Window (CMV).

Other diseases, though, may make breast milk unsafe for the baby. A woman should not breast-feed if she:

• Is infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (Reference HIV Opens New Window), because she can pass the virus to her baby in her milk.
• Has active Reference tuberculosis Opens New Window or some viral infections (such as active, acute Reference hepatitis Opens New Window).
• Has sores on her breast caused by infections (such as Reference herpes Opens New Window, Reference syphilis Opens New Window, or Reference chickenpox Opens New Window). She will need to wait until the infection has been resolved or successfully treated.

A rare hormonal disorder called Reference Sheehan's syndrome Opens New Window makes a woman unable to produce milk or to produce enough milk to feed her baby. Sheehan's syndrome results from severe bleeding (hemorrhaging) immediately after giving birth.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.