When N

ot to Breastfeed

Breastfeeding can be full of benefits for you and your baby. Unfortunately, for some women breastfeeding is not an option. Some of the more common complications that prevent women from breastfeeding include:

Serious maternal illness such as kidney disease, cardiac disease, or severe anemia
Serious infections such as active tuberculosis
Chronic medical conditions that require medications that may pass into the breast milk and lead to adverse affects in the newborn. Antithyroid, anticancer, antihypertensive drugs, mood altering drugs, or sedatives can all have unwanted effects.
HIV or AIDS can be transmitted through breast milk.
Drug abusers should obviously not breastfeed their children. Drugs such as tranquilizers, cocaine, heroin, methadone, marijuana, or alcohol can be transmitted to the child through the breast milk.
Certain breast surgeries will affect your ability to breastfeed your infant. Visit breast surgery and breastfeeding for a look at how different surgeries change your breastfeeding ability.

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