Hi, all.  The mother of a 7 month old, 98% breastfed infant just called because
she found out that the restaurant where she ate last weekend has been exposed to
Hepatitis A. The food that the mom ate was not on the list, and everything she
did eat was well cooked (and she had heard that proper cooking would reduce the
risk considerably). She has been told that if she was exposed, then she needs to
get the Immunoglobulin G shot within 2 weeks. Her questions include: How do they
know what food is and is not contaminated? If she is exposed, is there any
problem with continuing to nurse her baby in this two week time period before
she gets the shot? Is there reason or risk in getting the shot even if she is
reasonably sure she was not directly exposed?

I looked in the latest Ruth Lawrence and it said basically that unless mom is
showing jaundice signs she should not have the shot (though she doesn't
specifically address whether there is a problem with taking it if there is no
reason), and that bf should continue. I couldn't find anything on HAV in
BF&Human Lactation (found stuff on HAB--did I miss the HAV stuff?). From what
little I have found, it sounds like there is little reason to worry about the
bf, and the concern is more for the exposure itself.

Anybody out there have some suggestions for this mom? (She's an LLL Leader)

Thanks!

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC
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