I have an expectant mom who has had Hepatitis B.  She did not breastfeed her last baby because of having had hepatitis B and being told that this would be unsafe for her baby.  She is interested in breastfeeding this baby, and I am trying to find out the most recent thinking regarding this situation.  Some of the literature that I have found indicates that in the case of readily available and safe formula as in the US, breastfeeding would be contraindicated for a mother positive for hepatitis B surface antigen.  Unfortunately, I do not have a current copy of AAP and ACOG's Guidelines for Perinatal Care, the copy I have access to states:  "Mothers who are HBsAg positive should not breastfeed until their infants have received hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine."  Does anyone know how soon after receiving HBIG and vaccine the baby can begin nursing?  Also, if anyone has references for this information can they please post them on lactnet or e-mail me such references?  (I did check several lactnet archives and several databases without finding a definitive answer to this question.)  Thank you in advance,  Ellie Lentner (Sorry I have my husband's e-mail address.) 

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