Short answer is - YES! But it depends if the mother has an untreated active TB or is already receiving TB treatment. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection of the lungs due to the bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually affects the lungs but can also infect the kidney, spine and brain and can be fatal when left untreated. It can be spread through the air from one person to another through coughing, speaking or singing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
“Mothers should temporarily NOT breastfeed but CAN feed expressed breast milk if the mother has untreated, active tuberculosis. The mother may resume breastfeeding once she has been treated appropriately for 2 weeks and is documented to be no longer contagious.”
If you are experiencing chronic cough of more than 1 week or recently been exposed to a known TB patient, consult your doctor so they can run screening and sputum examination to confirm the diagnosis of TB. If ever you are diagnosed with TB, the initial treatment for a non-drug resistant TB will last for 6 months. You may receive medications such as Isoniazid and Rifampicin which are considered safe when breastfeeding. The doctor will also prescribe Vitamin B6 supplements because these drugs may hinder or decrease your Vit. B6 stores. Rifampicin can cause temporary orange discoloration of body fluids including breast milk but this is harmless and expected.
Here are a few tips for breastfeeding mothers with TB or undergoing TB treatment:
1. Temporarily stop breastfeeding unless you have received at least 2 weeks of TB treatment and are considered non-contagious.
2. Let a wet nurse or another lactating mother breastfeed your child.
3. Express your breast milk or ask for a donor breast milk from human milk banks. Another caregiver can cup feed your baby with your expressed breast milk or donor breast milk.
4. Regularly express breastmilk to prevent breast engorgement and to stimulate continuous milk production.
5. Wear a mask when breastfeeding.
Aside from TB treatment, a diet rich in immune boosting foods such as those rich in Vitamin A, C and E can help speed up recovery such as Squash, Papaya, Malunggay and fatty fishes rich in omega-3 such as Bangus and Tuna. Regular check-up and monitoring is important for breastfeeding mothers with TB. Consult your doctor on the safety of your TB treatment medications while breastfeeding and visit your health center for other breastfeeding tips and health services.
/AET
References:
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Basic TB Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Contraindications to Breastfeeding or Feeding Expressed Breast Milk to Infants. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/Contraindications-to-breastfeeding.html
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). TB Disease in Pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/populations/pregnancy/default.htm
• Department of Health (2012). Gabay sa Nanay sa Tamang Pagpapasuso.
