If You're Sick, Here's What You Need to Know About Breastfeeding With a Fever

If you choose to breastfeed, it can be one of the best bonding experiences for mother and baby. While it's not for everyone, those who do it know how big of a commitment it is. You stay up at all hours of the night, spend your lunch breaks pumping bottles, and even nurse through the pain of dry and cracked nipples. You sacrifice yourself to make sure your baby gets the essential nutrients they need to grow and develop.

Since flu season is hitting the country extremely hard this year, and it's also normal for rundown moms to get sick, it's important to ask questions about your baby's health when you're feeling under the weather. One of those major questions is: should you stop breastfeeding if you're running a fever? POPSUGAR spoke about the issue with Brandi Jordan, board-certified lactation consultant, pediatric sleep specialist, newborn care specialist, certified postpartum doula, and founder of The Cradle Company, a parenting resource center that offers classes and services in things like lactation, breastfeeding, sleep training, and childbirth education.

Jordan revealed that mothers will be happy to know that it's not only OK to keep nursing if you have a fever, it's actually encouraged. "It's been standard protocol for decades that a fever was not a sufficient reason to stop nursing your baby," she said. "Years of research has shown no increased risk of illness or infection being passed on to the infant. If parents are concerned about their little one's developing immune system, that's even more reason to pass on those antibodies and nutrients found in mom's milk!" Jordan concluded that "everyone's history is different, so it's always best to consult with your medical provider to make an informed decision."