Question

Can a newborn be breastfed by a mother with hepatitis B?

Answer

Hepatitis B virus is primarily transmitted through blood, sexual contact, and the mother-to-child route. In the mother-to-child transmission, the virus usually passes to the baby in the womb or during childbirth. Breast milk contains hepatitis B virus, and there is a risk that the virus could be transmitted to the baby if the mother has nipple cracks while breastfeeding, allowing blood or bodily fluids to enter the baby’s body along with the milk. Therefore, it is recommended that mothers with hepatitis B avoid breastfeeding.