Posts Tagged ‘Strep Throat’
Breastfeeding and Strep Throat
Breastfeeding woman often ask questions about breastfeeding and strep throat. It is normal to be a bit worried about your baby and breastfeeding, especially if you get strep throat during the breastfeeding period. If you want to know if it is safe to breastfeed your baby if you have strep throat, the answer is yes. Even if you have strep throat symptoms, it is safe for the baby to feed on your breast milk.
Your breast milk contains antibodies that will provide protection against strep throat. As we know, breast milk contains lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages that are crucial in fighting any infection. These cells have an important part in destroying harmful bacteria.
Breast milk provides your baby with all of the important nutrients, needed for normal development. Formula milk is being improved as we speak and companies that produce this milk tend to make a formula that is as nutritious as natural breast milk. However, breast milk can never be replaced by any other milk; its components can’t be duplicated to create an adequate alternative.
Mothers are always advised to breastfeed their babies, except when there is a chance of transmitting some disease through breast milk. Strep throat is transmitted through respiratory secretions. Therefore, your child should not come into contact with your saliva or nasal secretion. You need to wash your hands frequently. Avoid coughing and sneezing when you are near your baby. You need to wash your hands before touching the baby’s items, toys and clothes. Before cleaning the baby’s belly button, you must wash your hands. When you are preparing to feed the baby, your hands must be perfectly clean.
Strep throat is treated with several medications, including Penicillin and Amoxicillin. These antibiotics are believed to be quite safe. However, you should talk to your doctor before you start using any medications. If you are breastfeeding your baby, you must know that certain medications should be avoided.
Although these two antibiotics are regarded as safe for breastfeeding mothers, you should still visit your doctor and ask for advice. If you have strep throat, you need to start treating it in time, using the right medications. Don’t start any kind of therapy on your own. If you have any questions about breastfeeding, medications or strep throat, your doctor will answer these questions and tell you what to do.