Reasons You Should Not Breastfeed
Breast milk is considered the most ideal nutrient source for infants. It is associated with decreased risk of morbidity and mortality incidences among children, and promotes good long-term health.
However, there are certain contents where breastfeeding is contraindicated .
For example,
- Among HIV-infected women-unless under the guidance of a medical practitioner.
- If you have undergone breast surgery, which has interfered with milk production.
- If brucellosis is detected.
- If the child has galactosaemia whereby he or she cannot digest galactose that is contained in milk.
Reasons You May Need To Stop Breastfeeding Temporarily
There are other situations when you may need to stop breastfeeding for a period, and resume once the concern is addressed .For example:
- If you are under certain medications–A qualified physician should inform you on whether to stop breastfeeding if prescribed medicine can affect your child.
- Certain conditions -including Herpes may prompt the cessation of lactation until treated.
There are situations when exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months is not possible. A physician’s guidance may prove useful to identify when this is necessary.
In our following post, we’ll identify the common reasons why some women do not practice exclusive breastfeeding and consequently provide recommendations.