Breast Pump

When breastfeeding becomes unfeasible, indeed risky

For quite a few generations, it has been a well known and established fact that breastfeeding a
child is infinitely superior over feeding it with formula milk. The complex foods that the child gets through nursed milk is still a mystery for science, which no amount of formulations have been able to replicate. Couple this with the warmth and love the child receives, while snuggled against the full breasts, and one can appreciate the amount of care and bonding that nature has very carefully built up around the two, which is so very crucial for the normal and healthy growth of the child.

There are, however, situations - medical in nature - when breastfeeding is not feasible. Try as the mother does, it would be indeed risky for either the child or the mother, or both of them, to indulge in this activity. This article takes a look at the various situations when this is so.

The first situation that immediately draws attention is the transmission of HIV from mother to child during breastfeeding (MTCT). HIV positive mothers have infected cells present in their breast milk. The stage of the HIV condition that the mother is in, determines the intensity with which MTCT can occur. There are conditions which doctors refer to as "high viral load" or "low CD4 cell count"; besides Vitamin A deficiency, which, if present in the mother, immediately increases the risk of the child getting HIV. In such a situation, it is indeed best for the mother to go in for formula milk.

The same is the case when malignant or cancerous tumor has been detected. Any radioactive isotope testing or radiation therapy or chemotherapy always leaves room for the possibility of harmful elements passing to the child. However, cancerous cells do not pass through breast milk.

A mother suffering from Herpes (HSV-1, or Simplex Type 1) has cold sores or blisters around the mouth, and other parts of the body, usually above the waist. This condition is infectious, and since the child's immune system is still in the development stage, the probability of the virus entering the child's body is quite high; even though it is not present in the milk. In such a situation, the mother may employ a breastpump to nurse milk, while being careful at all times that the liquid does not come in contact with the sores in any way.

Sometimes, lumps are formed in the breasts of mothers, requiring a probe through a biopsy. These days, biopsies are surgery-free; since a hollow needle is all that it takes to remove a tiny piece of the lump for biopsy. If however, it "is" decided to remove the lumps through incision, milk ducts might get severed; the extent of which would determine whether nursing would be possible. In such a condition, the mother has to rely on the other breast that is normal, to carry out breastfeeding.

Mothers who are diabetic (mellitus, type 1 and 2), usually deliver a premature baby. The child has already adjusted to the mother's glucose imbalance while in utero. Both these situations enable the child to get a healthy diet through breast milk. Gestational diabetes - the kind that erupts in some mothers during pregnancy - is only temporary, and vanishes after delivery. Breastfeeding in this situation is definitely feasible; the only care required is for the mother to monitor her diet and lifestyle extra carefully during the nursing period.

Moms who undergo silicone or saline implants, experience pain and fever, whenever the breasts engorge. Further, there is a popular technique of incision, which carves a "smile" around the areola. This technique may sever the vital nerves that induce hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin, vital for milk production. The best way to know the extent of the damage is actually attempting to nurse. The silicone liquid in the implants are not known to leak into the milk; although it has no effect on the baby. More information for Moms with implants can be found in our Surgery and Breastfeeding artice.

A few mothers have flat nipples that do not protrude when stimulated. This can prove to be difficult for the child to latch on. There is a reverse situation, where the nipples actually retract or pull inward when suckled. This inversion at times becomes more pronounced when the breasts become full. Nipple stimulants in the form of breast shields are available for both the situations; and doctors advice specific exercises that can help alleviate the condition.

From the various situations described above, we can infer that, despite the best possible intention of feeding our child with nature's bounty of diet, other medical conditions can and do come in the way. In such circumstances, the only course of action left might be to either go in for breastpumping, or use formula milk.