Hi Ines,

I think this is just another example of recommending formula 'just to be safe'.  
In other words, whenever considering whether or not the mother should 
breastfeed, the known risks of NOT breastfeeding need to be weighed against 
the hypothetical risks of breastfeeding.  So yes, it's good to take a look at the 
risk to the baby of contracting Hep C, but is that risk greater than the known 
risks of not breastfeeding?  To decrease the risk of infection is it worth it to 
greatly increase the risk of NEC, respiratory infections, SIDS, etc?  Maybe you 
can dialog with the doctors to try to answer that question.

Marcia McCoy, IBCLC

Dear Lactnet;

I have recently noticed an increase in the questions among our patients=20=

regarding the advisability of breastfeeding for a mother with Hepatitis C=
.  I=20
realize that it is not considered a contraindication by Merewood and Phil=
ipp;=20
Hale; AAP, WHO, etc.  But at least three pediatricians in our city don't=20=

recommend it for mainly two reasons the nature of the research (poor stud=
ies,=20
low numbers,) and the seriousness of the infection even in with (so-
called) "low risk."  The other way they put it is "the baby was already l=
ucky=20
not to get infected in utero why would they be put at risk after birth?"

=20
Have any of you had experiences like this?  I am not talking about doctor=
s=20
giving out advice which is easy to refute (ie you shouldn=92t breastfeed =
during a=20
mastitis infection or when you are taking Pepcid), but thoughtful advice =
which=20
might have merit, but which contradicts the mainstream LC thinking.

=20

Thank you,

Ines Anchondo

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