This document provides information on contraindications and conditions where breastfeeding may or may not be advised. It lists situations where breastfeeding is not recommended, such as if the baby has galactosemia or the mother has active untreated tuberculosis. It also outlines conditions where the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risks, such as if the mother is a hepatitis B carrier or smokes, as long as she takes certain precautions. The document is intended as a factsheet for GPs and pharmacists on breastfeeding recommendations.

1. Breastfeeding
Information for GPs and Pharmacists
Contraindications FACTSHEET
to breastfeeding 06
Breastfeeding may not be in the best interest of The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the
the baby in the following conditions: risks in the following conditions:
• The baby has galactosaemia, • Mother is Hepatitis B surface antigen positive,
• Mother has active untreated tuberculosis, T-cell • Mother is infected with Hepatitis C virus,
lymphotrophic virus type 1 or 11, • Mother is carrier of cytomegalovirus (except for
• Mother is receiving diagnostic or therapeutic radio- possibly very low birth weight babies),
active isotopes or has had exposure to radioactive • Mother smokes – advise her to give up smoking
materials, and not smoke in the home,
• Mother is receiving antimetabolites or other che- • Mother consumes alcoholic beverages – advise her
motherapeutic agents, that an occasional small amount of alcohol will not
• Mother is abusing drugs, harm baby but to avoid breastfeeding for approxi-
• Mother has herpes simplex lesions on a breast (the mately two hours after drinking,
baby may feed from the other breast if free from le- • Baby born with jaundice and hyperbilirubinaemia
sions), – should for the most part be breastfed without inter-
• Mother is HIV positive. ruption. Occasionally, in rare cases of hyperbilirubi-
naemia breastfeeding may need to be interrupted
temporarily.
Reference
Breastfeeding and use of human milk. Paediatrics. VOl
115 No. 2 Feb 2005.
Contraindications to breastfeeding © Health Service Executive 2008