By Teneasha Washington

Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mother and child regardless of a child’s disability and in fact can reduce pain or discomfort from a disability and/or disease. Moreover, most mothers can breastfeed an infant successfully up to and beyond 2 years of age. Breastfeeding can reduce diarrhea and other infections such as ear infections, urinary tract infection, meningitis, pneumonia, and Haemophilus influenza. Breastfeeding has also been shown to protect against a child’s risk of developing a number of chronic diseases such as type I diabetes, Chrohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Benefits to mothers include delayed fertility, pre-menopausal ovarian and breast cancer, and reduced risks of post-partum hemorrhage. Although most women are able to breastfeed, there are a few cases in which alternative forms of feeding may be necessary based upon the child and/or the mother’s health.

Some infants may not be able to receive breastmilk and may need specialized formula. This is true for the following conditions:
•    Infants with phenylketonuria
•    Infants with galactosemia
•    Infants with maple syrup urine disease

Some infants may still be able to receive breastmilk as their best feeding option but may need additional food for a specified amount of time:
•    Newborn infants who are at risk of hypoglycemia
•    Infants born with very low birth weight (1500g)
•    Infants born very preterm (less than 32 weeks of gestation)

There are some cases where mothers may not be able to breastfeed on a temporary basis because of health conditions such as:
•    Certain maternal medications (radioactive iodine-131, excessive topical iodine or iodophors use, use of psychotherapeutic drugs, and cytotoxic chemotherapy)
•    Herpes simplex virus type 1
•    Any severe instance where a mother is not able to take care of an infant

There are also cases where a mother can breastfeed but may need additional resources due to a health condition or concern:
•    Hepatitis B
•    Tuberculosis
•    Breast abscess
•    Hepatitis C
•    Substance use
•    Mastitis

References

World Health Organization, UNICEF, & Wellstart International, 2009. Retrieved from [view link].