What condition makes breastfeeding contraindicated?

Breastfeeding is contraindicated in cases of active, untreated tuberculosis because the disease can be transmitted through breast milk and close contact. Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs, but it can also impact other parts of the body. When a mother has untreated active tuberculosis, the risk of passing the infection to the infant through droplets during close contact or via breast milk elevates significantly.

In contrast, conditions such as a common cold, seasonal allergies, and influenza typically do not contraindicate breastfeeding. While a mother may have to take certain precautions to prevent the spread of these infections, such as practicing good hygiene or possibly using a mask when feeding, none of these illnesses pose the same level of risk to the breastfeeding infant as untreated tuberculosis. Breastfeeding can still continue in cases of common cold or influenza, as the benefits of breastfeeding and the maternal antibodies provided often outweigh the risks. Seasonal allergies are similarly non-contagious and do not affect a mother’s ability to breastfeed safely.