Can a mother breastfeed when she has a fever?

Mother's love is the greatest love in the world. From the moment the baby is born, the mother has been silently giving. The vast majority of mothers will breastfeed their babies despite their own weak bodies after giving birth. But after all, mom is not made of iron, and it is inevitable that she will get sick sometimes. So if the mother is sick, can she still breastfeed her child? What issues should we pay attention to in breastfeeding during this period?

What should I do if I have a fever during breastfeeding?

If a breastfeeding mother has a fever (measured body temperature is between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius), she should stay in bed at home to ensure adequate sleep time to facilitate physical recovery; eat more nutritious liquids such as milk, porridge, noodles, etc., eat small meals frequently, and avoid eating eggs when having a high fever; drink more warm water, with a daily water intake of no less than 500 ml.

1. Wet compress helps lower body temperature. Hot wet compresses can reduce fever. However, when the patient feels very uncomfortable with the heat, cold wet compresses should be used instead.

Place a cold wet towel on your forehead, wrists, and calves, and cover other parts of your body with clothing. If your body temperature rises above 39.4°C, do not use hot compresses to reduce the fever. Apply cold compress to prevent the body temperature from rising further. When the cold compress reaches body temperature, it should be changed and repeated until the fever subsides. Sponging your entire body to allow evaporation can also have a cooling effect.

2. Pour hot water at about 42 degrees into a thermos teacup, place your mouth and nose into the mouth of the cup, and continuously inhale the hot steam three times a day to speed up the recovery of a cold.

3. You can reduce fever by drinking more hot water, covering yourself with more blankets, taking a sauna, or soaking your feet in hot water. But at the same time, you should also pay attention to hydration.

Can I feed my baby if I have a fever while breastfeeding?

Colds cannot be transmitted to babies through breast milk. As long as the mother's body temperature does not exceed 38.5℃, she can breastfeed her baby as usual. However, when the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃, the baby is likely to suffer from diarrhea after consuming breast milk due to its high heat, so breastfeeding should be stopped immediately. During this period, you should express the milk by hand or with a breast pump to avoid milk accumulation. In addition, when a mother feeds her baby after catching a cold, she should wear a mask to prevent the virus from spreading to the child through the respiratory tract. At other times, it is best to let family members help take care of the child and reduce contact with the child as much as possible so that she can rest better and recover her health soon. Usually, you should pay attention to a light diet, drink more boiled water, and open windows for ventilation regularly to maintain indoor air circulation and reduce the chance of virus transmission. If necessary, you can also use vinegar for indoor fumigation and disinfection.

Diet therapy for fever

Glutinous rice and scallion porridge: Wash 100 grams of glutinous rice, add appropriate amount of water to cook porridge. When it is almost cooked, add a few scallions and cook until cooked. Eat on an empty stomach.

Pear, date and egg soup: Wash and cut a pear into pieces, add appropriate amounts of red dates, ginger and rock sugar, then add water and boil, finally beat an egg. Take once in the morning and evening, and rest after taking.

Cabbage and radish soup: 250 grams of cabbage heart, 60 grams of white radish, add appropriate amount of water, add about 15 grams of brown sugar after frying, drink the soup and eat the vegetables while it is hot.

Tangerine peel, ginger and brown sugar tea: Cut 10 grams of tangerine peel and ginger into thin strips, add water and boil until half a bowl remains. Add appropriate amount of brown sugar when taking it and drink it while hot. Cover yourself with a blanket and sleep after taking it, which will help reduce fever and relieve headaches.

How to prevent fever during breastfeeding

1. During the confinement period in winter, the new mother's room should be comfortable and quiet, while also keeping out the cold and keeping warm. The indoor temperature should be kept between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius. If there is no heating in your home, you can turn on the air conditioner or electric heater to maintain a suitable temperature in the room.

2. Pay attention to rest. Keep a happy mood and ensure adequate sleep. A good mood and good sleep can enhance the body's resistance.

3. The diet should be nutritionally balanced. In winter, new mothers should eat more vegetables, fruits and high-protein foods rich in vitamins. These foods can promote normal cell metabolism and enhance the body's immunity. You should also drink more water and urinate more frequently to eliminate toxins from the body in a timely manner, which will help resist the invasion of fever viruses.

4. New mothers sweat a lot, and their clothes and bedding are often soaked with sweat, which makes it easy for bacteria to multiply and grow. Therefore, the new mother's clothes and bedding must be changed and dried frequently. This will not only keep them clean, but also kill germs with the help of ultraviolet rays in the sun.