Breastfeeding is Safe for Moms with Hepatitis B, as long as They Take a Few Important Precautions

Hepatitis B positive mothers can safely breastfeed their babies

According to a recent study published in the “Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine”, that does not seems to be the case and hepatitis B positive mothers can safely feed their babies.

Under Dr. Zhongjie Shi of Temple University in Philadelphia, researches analyzed the data from 10 earlier studies conducted in China. The rate of prevalence of hepatitis B in babies of 1000 positive mothers was compared. Almost half of these women, breastfed their babies. The babies received HBIG and were vaccinated just after birth and two to three times more, to prevent the transmission of the disease from their mothers.

31 babies out of 637, who were breastfed tested positive for hepatitis B before their first year. Of the babies who were not breastfed by their mothers, 33 out of 706 tested positive for the virus. It is clear that there is hardly any difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B in babies who were breastfed and those who were not. The babies who tested positive had most likely been infected while inside the womb or during their birth.

Hepatitis B virus is mainly transmitted from the mother to the baby through blood, followed by the amniotic fluid and vaginal secretions. Chances of transmission while breastfeeding are more likely if the mother has cracked or bleeding nipples or has some lesion on the breast.

Avoiding breastfeeding will deprive the baby of a valuable source of nutrition

Hepatitis B causes chronic inflammation of the liver and damages it. One out of every four individuals infected as a child, dies because of liver cancer or liver scarring caused by the disease. According to the WHO, there are about 350 million carriers of the hepatitis B virus, while more than 620,000 people die of it every year. The virus is transmitted through blood, unclean needles, and unsafe sex. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or child birth.

Earlier, mothers used to avoid breastfeeding their babies out of fear of transmitting the virus through their milk. However, recent studies have indicted that there is no difference in the prevalence of infection between the breastfed and the formula- fed infants, provided they have been adequately vaccinated.

Read More: Breastfeeding Your Baby: Why Breast Is Still Best

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, presence of hepatitis B infection in mothers is not a contraindication for breastfeeding their infants. They only have to take care that their babies receive the HBIG and HBV vaccine as scheduled. Breastfeeding also does not interfere with the immune response to the HBV vaccine. The only contraindication for breastfeeding by a hepatitis B positive mother is when she is receiving antiviral agents. These agents may get expressed in the breast milk and their safety in a child has not been proven.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health organizations have guidelines to help minimize the risk of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B through breastfeeding.

1. Start Immunization: Newborns of hepatitis B-positive mothers should receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. Additionally, the baby should receive a dose of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) at birth. These measures help provide passive immunity to the baby.

2. Continue Immunization Series: After the initial doses, the baby should complete the full hepatitis B vaccine series as recommended by their healthcare provider. This will help protect the baby from hepatitis B infection.

3. Practice Exclusive Breastfeeding: Mothers with hepatitis B can breastfeed their infants, but it's crucial to practice exclusive breastfeeding. Avoid giving the baby any other fluids or foods (including water) during the first six months of life.

4. Maintain Proper Hygiene: Ensure good hygiene practices by washing hands before touching the baby, especially when handling breast pumps or bottles.

5. Cover Cracked Nipples or Sores: If the mother has cracked nipples or sores on the breasts, she should cover them to prevent direct contact with the baby's mouth.

6. Monitor Baby's Health: Regularly monitor the baby's health and growth, and promptly inform the healthcare provider of any concerns.

7. Take Antiviral Medications if Recommended: In some cases, healthcare providers may prescribe antiviral medications to mothers with high viral loads to further reduce the risk of transmission.

Hence, it can be safely concluded that breast feeding is safe for hepatitis B positive mothers. Avoiding of breastfeeding by such mothers will deprive their infants of an important source of nutrition.