Although the Pediatric infectious disease bible ("Red Book") says
breastfeeding with Hep B is fine, it does not descriminate between active,
acute Hep B and chronic carriers.  The doctors are correct that there is an
increased risk of transmission if Mom is currently symptomatic and presumably
e-antigen positive.  However, assuming the infant was given HBIG and Hep B
vaccine in the first 12 hours of life, the risk to the infant with
breastfeeding or any close contact with mother should be zero.

Nancy
Nancy E. Wight MD, FAAP, IBCLC
Neonatologist, Children's Hospital & Sharp Mary Birch Hospital For Women
Medical Director, Sharp HealthCare Lactation Services
San Diego, California, USA
[log in to unmask]

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html