Does anyone know if it is ok to nurse while having food poison?

[Namaste]

I have it. I did the salad bar at the grocery store (I never do it for this reason) and one hour later, well you get the picture. I've been vomiting all afternoon.

[drenotdoctor]

I have had food poisoning before, and still nursed Kit. Don't know if that was the "right" thing to do, but she won't take a bottle, at this point she wasn't on any solids yet. Just make sure you keep pumping down water, b/c you will dry up in a hurry if you get to dehydtrated. Oh, and btw, Kit never had any tummy issues while I was sick & nursing her, so it did'n't seem to affect her at all. It was just me. lol

[greenkmt]

It is fine! My little boy is 18 months and I have had it several times. BREASTFEEDING IS BEST! Please make sure to drink lots of fluids.

misti

[wbkt8]

Kellymom says:

If mom has food poisoning, breastfeeding should continue. As long as the symptoms are confined to the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps), breastfeeding should continue without interruption as there is no risk to the baby. This is the case with most occurences of food poisoning. If the food poisoning progresses to septicemia, meaning the bacteria has passed into mom's bloodstream (mom would most likely be hospitalized), see this guidance from Dr. Ruth Lawrence: "Maternal infections of the genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract do not pose a risk to infants except in the rare circumstances when septicemia occurs and bacteria might reach the milk. Even in this event, continued breastfeeding while the mother receives appropriate antibiotic therapy that is compatible with breastfeeding is the safest course for the infant. If the infecting organism is especially virulent or contagious (e.g., an invasive group A streptococcal infection causing severe disease in the mother), breastfeeding should continue after a temporary suspension during the first 24 hours of maternal therapy. Prophylactic or empiric therapy for the infant, against the same organism, may be indicated." [source: Lawrence RM & Lawrence RA. Given the Benefits of Breastfeeding, what Contraindications Exist? Pediatric Clinics of North America 2001 (February);48(1): 235-51.]

[Namaste]

Well, we made it through the night. My dd#1 got it as well and let's just say it wasn't fun, but we are feeling much better today. Little one nursed just fine, between my vomit sessions!

Now to clean up this messy house!

Thanks for the replies ladies.