Breastfeeding is the best way to feed the baby, but there are situations where the mother can not breastfeed, because it can transmit diseases to the baby or the baby has some condition and can not digest the breast milk. Some of these situations happen when:
- The mother carries the HIV virus;
- The mother is in the first week of treatment for tuberculosis;
- The mother is being treated for cancer with radiation therapy and / or chemotherapy;
- The mother is a drug user;
- The mother takes medicines that harm the baby;
- The baby has phenylketonuria, galactosemia or other metabolic disease that prevents him from properly digesting milk.
Sometimes women who put silicone on their breasts or undergo breast reduction surgery also can not breastfeed because of changes in the anatomy of the breast.
How to feed a baby who can not be breastfed
When the mother can not breastfeed and wants to breastfeed her baby, she can go to the nearest human milk bank in her home. In addition, it can also offer powdered milk adapted for the baby, respecting the indication of the pediatrician.
Provides pure cow's milk before the baby reaches 1 year of age increases the risk of allergies and therefore is contraindicated.
See also: How and when to stop breastfeeding.
