Breastfeeding when you or your baby are ill: what is safe and what to do

Breastfeeding · Updated July 2026 · All articles

The instinct to stop breastfeeding when you or your baby are ill makes intuitive sense, but in most cases it is the wrong response. Breast milk is one of the most powerful tools you have for supporting your baby through illness, and continuing to feed during sickness is generally not only safe but actively protective. Here is what the evidence says, plus practical guidance on managing medications and a temporary supply drop.

When you are ill: the case for continuing to breastfeed

For the most common illnesses parents encounter, including colds, flu, respiratory infections, and gastroenteritis, the recommendation from health organisations including the NHS, WHO, and UNICEF is clear: continue breastfeeding. Here is why.

By the time you have visible symptoms of an infection, you have been incubating it and shedding the pathogen for one to two days already. Your baby has almost certainly already been exposed. Stopping breastfeeding at the point you feel ill does not reduce that exposure; it only removes the protection that breastfeeding provides.

When your immune system detects an infection, it begins producing specific antibodies. These antibodies appear in your breast milk within hours of exposure, not days. Your milk is essentially delivering a targeted, personalised immune response to your baby at exactly the moment they need it. This is one of the remarkable things about breastfeeding: the protection is dynamic and specific to the environment you and your baby share.

If you are too unwell to nurse directly, expressing and having someone else offer your milk by bottle or cup preserves this benefit while allowing you to rest. Prioritise your own recovery: you cannot care for your baby if you are very unwell.

Colds and upper respiratory infections

A cold is one of the most common reasons parents worry about whether to continue breastfeeding. It is safe to continue. Hand hygiene is more important than stopping feeds: washing your hands thoroughly before handling your baby and before feeding reduces transmission significantly. If you are using a pump while unwell, clean the pump parts carefully and maintain good hygiene around the equipment.

If you have a very blocked nose and a cough, you might find it easier to try feeding in a different position that reduces direct facial contact with your baby, such as side-lying feeding. This can also be more comfortable when you are unwell and have less energy for upright feeding.

Flu and fever

Flu is more severe than a cold, and it can leave you very unwell for several days. The same principle applies: continue breastfeeding if you can, or express and have the milk given by another carer if you cannot. A high fever can temporarily reduce milk supply, and you may find your baby more unsettled during a feed as your milk flow is affected. Keep up fluids, rest as much as possible, and feed or express as frequently as you can manage.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are both safe to take while breastfeeding at standard doses, and they help manage fever and discomfort. Only trace amounts of either pass into breast milk. Decongestants containing pseudoephedrine should be avoided during breastfeeding as they can reduce milk supply: check the labels of any cold and flu combination products carefully, or ask a pharmacist to help you choose something suitable.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis (stomach bug) is not transmitted through breast milk. It spreads mainly through the faecal-oral route, and breastfeeding does not increase your baby's risk of catching the same infection. On the contrary, your milk will contain antibodies to the pathogen causing your illness. Continue breastfeeding if you can. Focus on thorough and frequent handwashing, particularly after using the toilet and before touching your baby, as this is the single most effective way to reduce transmission.

Staying hydrated is particularly important when you have gastroenteritis. Drink fluids little and often even if you feel nauseous, as dehydration can affect your milk supply and make you feel much worse.

Medications and breastfeeding

One of the most common concerns during illness is whether the medications needed to treat it are safe to take while breastfeeding. Many medicine leaflets state "avoid during breastfeeding" as a blanket precautionary note, which causes significant unnecessary worry. In most cases, the actual evidence shows that only very small amounts of the drug pass into milk and there is no documented risk to the baby.

The Breastfeeding Network's drugs and breastfeeding factsheets are a reliable and well-cited resource, freely available online. The LactMed database from the US National Library of Medicine is another evidence-based reference. A pharmacist is well placed to advise on common medications. If you need antibiotics, the majority of commonly prescribed antibiotics in the UK are safe for breastfeeding: penicillin-based antibiotics and many other first-line treatments are fine, and your GP or pharmacist can confirm the specific one you have been prescribed.

The medications to be more cautious about include certain antihistamines (some older ones can reduce supply), aspirin (generally avoided in breastfeeding as well as in pregnancy), pseudoephedrine-containing decongestants, and some prescription medications. Always check with a pharmacist or your GP rather than stopping breastfeeding on the basis of a leaflet alone.

When your baby is ill

When a baby is unwell, breastfeeding is often the most effective comfort and nourishment available. Sick babies may feed more frequently than usual, more briefly, or in a different pattern, but breastfeeding should continue unless a medical professional has specifically advised otherwise.

A baby with a respiratory illness may struggle to breathe while nursing due to nasal congestion. Saline drops before a feed, feeding in a more upright position, and offering shorter, more frequent feeds can all help. A baby with gastroenteritis may feed more often to stay hydrated: breast milk provides hydration as well as nourishment and immune support, and frequent nursing is the best approach.

Jaundice in newborns is a specific situation where feeding frequency is particularly important. Frequent nursing (at least eight to twelve times in 24 hours) helps bilirubin clear more effectively. If your baby has jaundice and your supply is not fully established yet, your medical team will advise on supplementing if needed, but breastfeeding should continue throughout treatment.

Supply drop during and after illness

A temporary supply drop during illness is common. Fever, dehydration, reduced feeding frequency while you are unwell, and the physiological stress of illness can all reduce milk production for a few days. This is almost always temporary. As you recover and feeding returns to its usual frequency, supply normally bounces back within a few days. Stay hydrated, increase nursing frequency, and if needed, add pump sessions between feeds to stimulate supply more actively. If supply has not recovered within a week of feeling better, your health visitor or a lactation consultant can help.

Frequently asked questions

Should I stop breastfeeding if I have a cold or flu?

No. Continuing to breastfeed when you have a cold or flu is the recommended approach. By the time you have symptoms, you have already been infectious for a day or two, meaning your baby has likely already been exposed. Your body is now making antibodies to the specific illness, and these pass into your milk within hours of exposure, giving your baby a targeted level of protection. Stopping breastfeeding during illness removes this protection and does not reduce your baby's exposure.

Can I take paracetamol or ibuprofen while breastfeeding?

Yes. Both paracetamol and ibuprofen are considered safe to take while breastfeeding at standard doses. Only tiny amounts pass into breast milk and neither is known to cause harm to a breastfed baby. They are the recommended first-line pain and fever relief for breastfeeding parents. Always read the product label and do not exceed the stated dose. If you need anything stronger or have questions about a specific medication, ask your pharmacist or GP.

Is it safe to breastfeed if I have gastroenteritis?

Yes. Most gastroenteritis infections are spread through the faecal-oral route, not through breast milk. Continuing to breastfeed is recommended because your milk contains antibodies to the pathogen causing your illness. Focus on thorough handwashing (this is more important than stopping feeds) and staying hydrated. If you are so unwell that you cannot feed directly, express to maintain supply and have someone else offer the expressed milk to your baby.

How do I check if a medication is safe to take while breastfeeding?

The Breastfeeding Network's drugs factsheets (available at breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk) are a reliable, well-cited source. The LactMed database (from the US National Library of Medicine) is another evidence-based resource. Do not rely solely on the patient information leaflet that comes with a medication: many leaflets say "avoid in breastfeeding" as a precautionary legal note rather than because there is evidence of harm. A pharmacist or your GP can also advise on specific medications.

My supply has dropped since I was ill. Will it come back?

Yes, in most cases. A temporary supply drop during illness is very common, caused by dehydration, reduced feeding frequency when you are too unwell to nurse, and the effects of fever on milk production. As you recover and feeding frequency returns to normal, supply typically bounces back within a few days. Increase nursing frequency, stay well hydrated, and if needed, add some pump sessions to stimulate supply more actively. If supply does not recover within a week of feeling better, contact your health visitor or a lactation consultant.

When should I not breastfeed because of illness?

There are a small number of situations where breastfeeding is not recommended: active, untreated tuberculosis (TB); HIV in countries where safe formula alternatives are available; HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 infection; taking certain chemotherapy or radioactive medications; and a small number of other specific conditions. These are rare. For the vast majority of common illnesses, including colds, flu, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, and most respiratory infections, breastfeeding is safe and beneficial. Always get individual advice from your doctor if you are unsure about your specific situation.

This article is for general information only. Always consult your midwife, health visitor, GP, or a registered lactation consultant for advice about your specific situation.