Question
When I have stomach trouble, is it okay to breastfeed my 3-month-old?
Answer
Toxins that cause food poisoning stay mostly in the gut, doing their damage locally. These events typically start within a few hours of the ingestion and last a day or two at the most. Very little bad stuff is absorbed and only very minute amounts end up in your breast milk. That's why we advise even those moms with infections that create bacteria in the bloodstream to continue nursing with no added risk to the
infant. In fact, if you do have an infectious upset, the extra anti-infective agents in your milk are just what the doctor ordered to help the
infant fight off anything to which you both were exposed.
So keep up the nursingyou are doing something very special for your
baby. Drink small amounts of liquid frequently if you have vomiting or diarrhea.