When we are breastfeeding our baby, doubts may arise about the advisability of taking certain medications or undergoing some treatment, because we fear that they may be contraindicated with breastfeeding and harm our child. Likewise, if the mother has to receive a vaccine, it is likely that she also wonders about its safety, or an issue that affects in some way the quality of her milk.
But the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP) makes it clear: there is no reason to delay or suspend any vaccine during the breastfeeding period , whether it is the mother who is going to receive the vaccination, or if it’s the baby.
The mother can be vaccinated while breastfeeding
Either because they correspond by age or due to certain personal circumstances, there may be vaccines that the woman needs to receive during breastfeeding . And faced with this situation, it is common to wonder: are the vaccines the mother receives safe for the breastfed baby, or can they affect the quality of her milk?
On the other hand, certain circumstances, such as the birth of a premature baby, require the indirect protection of all the people who live with him. Hence the importance of the mother (regardless of whether she breastfeeds or not) has her vaccination schedule up to date , in addition to receiving the seasonal flu vaccine.
But it is worth mentioning a couple of vaccines that require special attention :
- On the one hand, there would be the yellow fever vaccine, which must be administered when traveling to regions of the world where the disease is present. This vaccine contains live viruses that are transmitted through milk, so in general it would be advisable to avoid it during breastfeeding.
However, experts clarify that if the mother cannot avoid traveling to endemic areas, vaccination must be carried out , since the risk for the baby of being exposed to this vaccine virus is less than that which the mother would assume when exposed to the disease.
Another option to consider if the baby is less than nine months old, would be to express the milk and discard it during the 14 days after the vaccination , which is the time that the viral elimination lasts.
- And the other vaccine to control would be chickenpox, as it is rarely associated with the presence of a contagious rash in the area of the puncture . If this occurs, it is enough to cover the rash with a dressing or clothing to avoid direct contact with the baby.
In any case, if you have to receive any vaccines while you are breastfeeding your baby and you have any questions about it, it is recommended that you talk to your doctor or take a look at the e-lactation consultation website, created by professionals.
How do the vaccines a mother receives affect the milk she produces for her baby?
When a woman who is breastfeeding is vaccinated, the antigen load she receives does not pass into the milk , as her immune system is responsible for transforming it. In any case, experts warn that even if these antigens did get into the stream of breast milk, they would not pose any risk to the health of your baby.
In response to vaccination, the mother’s body makes antibodies that could pass into the milk , but being a natural product of maternal origin, not only would they not harm the baby but could also provide additional protection, although not significant ( hence the importance of complying with the baby’s vaccination schedule regardless of the maternal one).
Breastfeeding, the baby’s first vaccination
According to UNICEF in a campaign carried out two years ago, breastfeeding can be considered as the first vaccine that a baby receives after birth, since it not only contains nutrients, but also antibodies that protect against serious diseases.
But the CAV emphasizes that breastfeeding is not a substitute for infant vaccination , but that both complement each other and are necessary. Also, remember that no vaccine is contraindicated in the baby while breastfeeding, including those administered orally such as Rotavirus.
And finally, it is worth mentioning the analgesic effect of breastfeeding against the injection of the vaccine (“tetanalgesia”), something that has even been echoed by the WHO. And it is that breastfeeding the baby while they are vaccinating would help reduce anxiety and stress levels, and therefore feel less pain.
Photos | iStock
Via | Vaccine Advisory Committee of the AEP
