Journal of Family Health Care

Cancer diagnosis/treatment in the mother

Babies with cleft lip and palate conditions can receive breast milk, either through expressed feeds or by breast-feeding using special techniques  positions, and supplementary feeding methods. Techniques vary, depending on the degree of the condition.  

When the breast-feeding mother is exposed to a mild viral illness, her body quickly produces specific antibodies that protect the baby.

For babies with cystic fibrosis (CF)

Mothers with diabetes should be reassured that their breast-feeding experiences should be like those of non-diabetic mothers: insulin will not harm the baby and breast milk has much the same composition in women whether or not they have diabetes.

Breast-fed babies are less likely to suffer stomach upsets than formula-fed babies. However, because exclusively breast-fed infants’ stools are normally loose, diarrhoea can be difficult to diagnose.

Breast engorgement should be differentiated from breast fullness and should not be confused with a transient increase in milk production.

Except in rare circumstances, women with epilepsy are encouraged to breast-feed.

Food poisoning usually disappears within a few days, causing no further problems.

Contrary to popular belief, there are no specific foods that must be eaten or completely avoided by a breast-feeding mother.

Usually, mothers with hepatitis can breast-feed, although if the disease is in the active phase the mother may feel very ill and will require close support, regardless of whether she wishes to continue or stop breast-feeding.

In the UK, breast-feeding is universally considered as a potentially major route of transmission for HIV and is completely contraindicated, although guidelines are under constant review.

Women who are breast-feeding should be given the opportunity to continue, for whatever reason – and wherever – they are in hospital, unless they are receiving treatment that specifically contraindicates breast-feeding.

Women with inverted or flat nipples can breast-feed. Breast-feeding experts disagree on whether pregnant women should be screened for flat or inverted nipples, and whether treatments to draw out the nipple should be routinely recommended.

High or rapidly rising bilirubin levels (i.e. physiological jaundice) are observed within 4 days of birth in up to 60% of otherwise healthy babies. These symptoms are rarely related to feeding and only about 10% of babies with jaundice require specialist treatment.

Successful breast-feeding relies upon the breast’s ability to secrete – and release – milk.

If a breast-feeding mother becomes unwell with general flu-like malaise and red-hot, painful or swollen patches (with focal tenderness) appear on the breast, she may have mastitis.^1,2 Urgent medical review is essential and antibiotics compatible with breast-feeding may be necessary, although evidence for this is mixed.

Although mothers with MS are at greater risk of relapse in the first 3 months post-delivery, those who exclusively breast-feed have a significantly reduced risk of such relapses.

Even if a baby is unable to receive nutritional benefits from breast-feeding (for example, because of limited milk production in the mother, or a physiological condition such as cleft palate), “non nutritive sucking” improves physiological stability in babies.

Breast-feeding is a very important component in establishing the maternal–infant bond, therefore it should definitely be promoted in the care plan of any woman with low mood.

Reflux or possetting is common in babies but only presents a problem if it causes physical symptoms (e.g. pain, aspiration, projectile vomiting, excessive crying), poor growth, or develops into gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Each breast is different in shape, size and anatomical make-up, and babies often develop some degree of feeding preference. Reassure the mother that most of the reasons for persistent breast refusal are harmless and temporary, and can be rectified with patience, persistence and good support.

Momentary nipple pain and trauma are normal while breast-feeding is being established, at latch-on, or at the start of pumping.

It is unnecessary to stop breast-feeding when babies’  teeth erupt (some babies are born with teeth, after all).