Question
If a mother is diagnosed with Hepatitis B ( the triple therapy ) after giving birth, can she still breastfeed?
Answer
The transmission routes of the Hepatitis B virus include blood, sexual contact, and mother-to-child transmission. Mother-to-child transmission mainly occurs in utero or during the birthing process, but it is often overlooked that the breast milk may also contain the Hepatitis B virus. If the mother is a Hepatitis B patient, her breast milk may contain the virus. If the nipple is damaged while breastfeeding, it may lead to the baby ingesting blood or bodily fluids along with the milk, thereby increasing the risk of infection. Therefore, it is not recommended to breastfeed.