Dear Lactnetters,

It is written in the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and the Breastfeeding Answer Book, that 
(regarding a surgically opened and drained breast abscess) "... and if the incision is far enough from the nipple so that the baby's mouth does not touch it when he breastfeeds, the mother may also be able to nurse on the affected side."
 
There is a US doctor (OB/GYN) on a Hungarian discussion website who quoted this text and stated that this is an absolute mistake from a doctor's point of view because lots of bacteria can  be spread from the opened abscess even far from the edge and this bacteria may be dangerous for the baby.

This is what I asked him: Isn't it true that the baby already received the pathogen even before the abscess was opened through his mother's milk and he is also receiving antibodies against it?

He said, No.

He did not give any explanation so I split up my original question to see which part he did not agree with and I added one more question: Is it true that in case the abscess is far enough from the nipple, after creating the right conditions for hygiene (covering the wound, hand washing, etc.) the baby may be nursed on the affected side?

There is no answer so far but I need references (mainly primary source references) to give to the doctor. Could somebody, please, send me some?

Thanks in advance.

Warmly,
Ibolya Rozsa, IBCLC
Hungary




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