Top Questions From Breastfeeding Mamas

By Cindy Puppos | January 28, 2019

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CAN I BREASTFEED WHILE I AM SICK? CAN I BREASTFEED WITH THE FLU?

If you have a cold or flu, fever, diarrhea and vomiting, keep breastfeeding as normal. Your baby won’t catch the illness through your breast milk. In fact, the protective antibodies in your breast milk help your baby’s developing immune system fight off infection and illness!

Of course, practicing good hygiene while sick is the best defense so others in your household, including your little one, do not get sick. This includes washing your hands frequently, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces at home, limiting face-to-face contact, properly covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, and even wearing a mask to shield your nose and mouth when close to baby. Also, make sure you continue to sanitize breast pump accessories.

Breastfeeding while sick can be very tiring. This is the perfect time to utilize an extra supply of pumped and stored breast milk. 1 Natural Way can work with you and your insurance company to get you qualified for a free breast pump, so you will be prepared and ready for moments like this. Plus, pumped breast milk fed to the baby in bottles is a great way for other members of the family to lend a hand while you rest.

It’s fine to take certain medications while breastfeeding, while others should be avoided. This includes over the counter flu, cold, and cough medicines that contain decongestants and expectorants. These ingredients can reduce your milk supply. Contact your primary physician, OB/GYN or your baby's pediatrician before taking any medication while breastfeeding.

CAN I BREASTFEED WHILE PREGNANT?

Generally, it is considered safe to continue breastfeeding while pregnant. It is not safe, however, when you have a high-risk pregnancy (as defined by your physicians). Breastfeeding while pregnant may trigger mild uterine contractions, possibly causing preterm labor. Your OB/GYN is your best resource to confirm if it’s safe or not to breastfeed while pregnant.

If you are breastfeeding while pregnant, you must carefully monitor your eating habits and fluid intake. Healthy foods and copious amounts of fluids are key. Did you know the taste and quality of your breast milk will change as your pregnancy evolves? Your milk production will decrease as well. These factors may cause the child you are currently nursing to wean on his or her own.

WILL BREASTFEEDING CAUSE WEIGHT LOSS?

While breastfeeding takes a lot of time and energy, it can also cause you to lose weight. Breastfeeding mothers often burn more calories than they take in, so moms should consider taking in an additional 300 to 500 calories a day to keep up energy and milk production!

Mothers should focus on healthy, vitamin and protein filled foods to maintain a healthy milk supply. Not one of those people who loses weight while nursing? Don’t worry. You’ll have the rest of your life to lose the baby weight!

CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE BREASTFEEDING? CAN I DRINK WINE WHILE BREASTFEEDING?

If you choose to consume alcohol - even that responsibly sized glass of wine - avoid breastfeeding until the alcohol has completely cleared out of your system. Do not use any milk that you pumped after drinking. It typically takes two to three hours for 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol), five ounces of wine (11%) or 1.5 ounces of liquor (40%), to clear your breast milk, depending on your body weight.

Even though the term “pumping and dumping” is common, it does not speed up the elimination of alcohol from a mother’s body. The good thing about pumping and dumping, though, is that if you miss a feeding or two due to alcohol in your milk, pumping helps you maintain that consistent milk supply and avoid engorgement.

Before you consume alcohol, make sure you have enough pumped milk or stored breast milk available for feedings that you will miss.

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1 Natural Way offers a complete array of products and services to make moms more comfortable and confident throughout their pregnancy and breastfeeding journey. We provide mothers with name brand breast pumps, monthly breastfeeding supplies, maternity compression stockings and postpartum recovery garments, as well as expert and compassionate advice and top-notch customer service. Click here to start the qualification process to get your breast pump at no cost to you.

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