Are you a nursing mother and suffering from nausea and vomiting, or experiencing abdominal cramps? If so, chances are you might be suffering from food poisoning. And once mothers discover that they have food poisoning, their worry is if their babies are safe to keep breastfeeding.
Dr Stephenson Musiime, Chief Consultant Paediatrician at GLAMERC POLYCLINIC-Remera, notes that food poisoning is caused by contamination of our food by germs or their toxins. These germs, he says, cannot be secreted in breast milk, therefore, breastfeeding mothers should continue breastfeeding as usual.
According to Dr Iba Mayele, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Clinic Galien- Kimironko, food poisoning in nursing mothers can occur due to the ingestion of contaminated food that contains toxins and harmful viruses and bacteria.
"Consumption of undercooked or raw food can also be the cause of food poisoning in nursing mothers,” he says. Mayele says that bacteria, such as E Coli, salmonella, and listeria, can lead to the symptoms of food poisoning. He also explains that you can tell that it is food poisoning when you have nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, and blood in stool, dehydration, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, blurry vision and general muscular weakness and tingling in the arms.
Musiime says that the mother needs to drink more and eat whatever she likes. Most cases of food poisoning resolve without the need for medication. He adds that in rare cases, where antibiotics are needed, the doctors prescribe ones that do not affect the baby.
When asked whether breastfeeding while food poisoned can harm the baby, Musiime says ‘no’, adding that breastfeeding mothers should continue to do so as usual since the germs cannot be secreted in the breast milk. However, he notes that strict hygiene has to be observed to avoid cross-contamination.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breastfeeding more frequently while you have food poisoning helps protect your baby from contracting the illness, too. It’s also excellent rehydration therapy if your baby has diarrhoea.
CDC notes that it’s possible that your baby could pick up the germs that made you sick from another source outside of your breast milk — for example, if the baby had a taste of whatever food contained the pathogen.
Mayele notes that although nursing your baby is okay as the bacteria or viruses are present in your stomach and not in the breast milk, however, if the microbes enter your bloodstream, you need to stop breastfeeding immediately and get medical assistance.
Dangers to breastfeeding mothers
Healthline states that although food poisoning certainly isn’t a comfortable experience, most adults fare well and are back to health after a couple of days. However, adults who are older, immune-compromised, or pregnant may have a tougher time and may require medical attention if the situation becomes severe.
"But it’s important to remember that even moderate cases of food poisoning can cause dehydration. Some breastfeeding parents notice drops in their milk supply after illnesses like food poisoning. That’s why it’s important that you stay well hydrated.”
Musiime adds that mothers should do strict hand hygiene, have enough rest, drink as much as they can at least more than their usual intake, and if unable or are vomiting everything, they should seek medical advice. And, Mayele urges increasing fluid intake as it can help treat dehydration, he is certain that fluids hydrate the body and increase milk production in nursing mothers. He advises consulting a good doctor to have suitable antibiotics to cure the symptoms and effects of food poisoning while nursing.
Prevention
Mayele says that food poisoning can be prevented if you wash your hands before you eat, eat hygienic foods, and avoid junk food while nursing your baby and also keep your home surroundings clean to avoid the growth of bacteria in and around the kitchen.