When Not to Breastfeed << Breastfeeding Home << womenshealth.gov

General Information for When Not to Breastfeed

Health professionals agree that human milk provides the most complete form of nutrition for infants, including premature and sick newborns. But, there are rare exceptions when human milk is not recommended. Under certain circumstances, a doctor will need to decide on a case-by-case basis whether a woman's environmental exposure or her own medical condition warrants her to interrupt or stop breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is not advisable if one or more of the following conditions affect the mother or baby:

An infant diagnosed with galactosemia (guh-lak-toh-SEE-mee-uh), a rare genetic metabolic disorder in which the body cannot digest the sugar galactose.

The infant whose mother:

Has been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or has acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). If you have HIV and want to give your baby breast milk, you can contact a human milk bank.
Is taking antiretroviral medications.
Has untreated, active tuberculosis.
Is infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or type II.
Is using or is dependent upon an illicit drug. Some drugs, such as cocaine and PCP, can affect your baby and cause serious side effects. Other drugs, such as heroin and marijuana can cause irritability, poor sleeping patterns, tremors, and vomiting. Babies can become addicted to these drugs.
Is taking prescribed cancer chemotherapy agents, such as antimetabolites that interfere with DNA replication and cell division.
Is undergoing radiation therapies; however, such nuclear medicine therapies require only a temporary interruption in breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding and Tobacco and Alcohol Use

If you smoke tobacco, it is best for you and your baby if you try to quit as soon as possible. If you can't quit though, it is still better to breastfeed since your baby is at higher risk of having respiratory problems and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfeeding lowers the risk of both of these health problems in your baby. Be sure to smoke away from your baby and change clothes to keep your baby away from the chemicals from the smoke on your clothing.

You also should avoid drinking alcohol, and especially avoid drinking large quantities of alcohol. An occasional drink is ok, but avoid breastfeeding for two hours after the drink. Also, many babies do not like the taste of your milk after you have had alcohol and will breastfeed more once the alcohol is out of your system.

Breastfeeding and Common Illnesses

Some women think that when they are sick, they should not breastfeed. But, most common illnesses, such as colds, flu, or diarrhea, can't be passed through breast milk. In fact, if you are sick, your breast milk will have antibodies in it. These antibodies will help protect your baby from getting the same sickness.

Additional Resources

Publications

Breastfeeding Mothers-Self Care — This publication provides general recommendations for breastfeeding mothers. It also includes information on the effects of alcohol, caffeine, and other items during breastfeeding.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002454.htm

When Should a Mother Avoid Breastfeeding? — This fact sheet describes rare exceptions when breastfeeding is not recommended, such as when the infant is diagnosed with galactosemia, the mother has been infected with HIV, the mother has untreated, active tuberculosis, the mother is taking certain medications, and more.

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/disease/contraindicators.htm

Breastfeeding and HIV/AIDS Frequently Asked Questions (Copyright © Linkages Project) — This fact sheet for health care professional and mother with HIV discusses the current studies and their results about HIV transmission through breastfeeding. It describes when a mother should be advised not to breastfeed.

http://www.linkagesproject.org/media/publications/frequently%20asked%20questions/FAQ_HIV_Eng_04-04.pdf...

Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (Copyright © AAP) — This policy statement discusses the advances that have occurred in recent years in the scientific knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding, the mechanisms underlying these benefits, and in the clinical management of breastfeeding. This policy statement on breastfeeding also replaces the 1997 policy statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics and reflects this newer knowledge and the supporting publications.

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;115/2/496.pdf

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/blood.html

HIV Transmission through Breastfeeding: A Review of Available Evidence (Copyright © WHO) — This report discusses the pros and cons of an HIV-positive mother breastfeeding, discusses the available research on the topic, describes how transmission occurs and how to prevent it, and concludes with information about further research that still needs to be done on the issue.

http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/docs/hiv_infantfeeding/breastfeeding.pdf

How do Diet, Medications and Alcohol Affect Breastfeeding (Copyright © ACNM) — Many breastfeeding mothers wonder if they need to make changes in their diet and medications when they start breastfeeding. This publication lists breastfeeding do's and don'ts, what foods a breastfeeding mother should eat or not eat, medications to avoid, and more.

http://www.gotmom.org/eating_right.cfm

Is it Safe for a Smoker to Breastfeed Her Baby? What About Using the Nicotine Patch and Other Smoking Cessation Aids? (Copyright © LLLI) — This fact sheet provides information on the health risks to a baby when the mother is a smoker. It also discusses whether products to help mothers quit smoking will affect the baby.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/smoking.html

The Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals Into Human Milk (Copyright © AAP) — This policy statement is intended to supply the pediatrician, obstetrician, and family physician with data, if known, concerning the excretion of drugs into human milk.

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/3/776

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/alcohol.html

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated February 27, 2009.

Breastfeeding: Best for baby. Best for mom.