Hepatitis virus and breastfeeding

Hi Nicky, Hep B andc C viruses can both be found in the milk of infected women however consumption of such milk by infants does not result in infection. There is a theoretical risk of transmission if the mother has nipple damage resulting in bleeding but I have not been able to identify any actual cases of infection resulting from this. So the treatment would be, assist Hepatitis infected mothers to breastfeed with assistance to prevent nipple damage that might cause bleeding, assist mothers to exclusively breastfeed (so as to prevent damage to the intestinal lining by foreign foods that facilitates infection of all kinds), give the mother treatment for her own health and wellbeing.

A recent article addressed this issue: "Breastfeeding of Newborns by Mothers Carrying Hepatitis B Virus": http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/archpediatrics.2011.72