An Aptaclub initiative to support & encourage breastfeeding in Ireland

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Home / Expert Answers / Individual circumstances for mum and baby / Breastfeeding when baby is sick

Breastfeeding when baby is sick

If a sick baby is able to take anything by mouth, breast milk is the best option as it provides antibodies and is easily digested. Remember that breastfeeding is not only about nutrition - nursing is very reassuring for a baby in distress.

That’s why experts agree you should try to keep breastfeeding if you, or your baby, are sick, visit our article on breastfeeding when mum is unwell for more information. When your baby is ill, they might breastfeed more often and for shorter periods. If the illness doesn’t allow them to breastfeed, you can still feed expressed breast milk using a cup or bottle.

If you are ill and cannot breastfeed because you have been hospitalised or are taking medicines that are not compatible with breastfeeding, you can express to maintain your supply until you are well again. If your medication is not compatible with breastfeeding, throw the breast milk away, keep expressing and ask your doctor when you will be finished the unsuitable medication so you can go back to feeding.

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Breastfeeding Benefits

Breastfeeding offers lifelong benefits for you and your baby. Health benefits include a lower risk of some cancers for you & less chance of allergies for your baby. Even if you cannot breastfeed for as long as you had planned, the good news is that you are still giving your baby a precious gift. For example, did you know that breastfeeding for even just six weeks can lower your baby’s risk of chest infections up to the age of seven?

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An Aptaclub initiative to support & encourage breastfeeding in Ireland

Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, research has shown that one of the reasons cited by mothers for this is lack of support. That is why we created a website to support breastfeeding and help mums with their nursing for as long as they wish. For over 50 years we have been committed to learning from the natural benefits of breast milk with an ongoing programme of research that now involves over 250 scientists, paediatricians and nutritionists. Although our nutrition products include infant products, we have always stressed, both in our literature and advertising, that breast milk is the perfect food for babies. It is because of this we strongly believe that www.mumslikeus.ie, a comprehensive website to support other national breastfeeding initiatives means we can work together to provide the support to mothers during this challenging and exciting time in order to improve and sustain breastfeeding rates in Ireland the long term. This is in line with the Aptaclub mission to make a difference to the long term health of babies in Ireland..

How Mumslikeus can help parents

Breastfeeding offers amazing, life-long, health benefits for mums and babies, is kind to the environment and, last but not least, is natural, free and convenient.

It is easy to feel bombarded by conflicting advice and feel uncertain about your baby’s wellbeing. We have created this online community to assist you at every stage of your breastfeeding journey through expert information, peer support and interactive tools. If requested, we can send you emails touching on what to expect at particular stages of your journey so you are prepared and fully supported all the way.

Dads and partners too can feel isolated and it is often hard to see a partner struggle and feel unable to offer any support. For this reason we have included a section for dads and partners who want to find out all about breastfeeding and how to help their partner throughout the journey.

Get in touch to help Mumslikeus support you

If you feel there is anything missing or you’d like us to address a specific concern, please get in touch and let us know how we can better support and encourage your own successful and rewarding breastfeeding experience. Email ask@mumslikeus.ie or call our dedicated careline between 8.30 and 5.30pm Monday to Friday – Freephone 1800 283054.

An Aptaclub initiative to support & encourage breastfeeding in Ireland