Breastfeeding and a Cold: Can You Keep Breastfeeding When You're Sick?

Breastfeeding and a Cold: Can You Keep Breastfeeding When You're Sick?

It’s the kind of morning you dread. You wake up with a sore throat, a stuffy nose, a heavy head, and a baby who’s demanding to be fed as if nothing were wrong. The question pops into your head right away: Can I keep breastfeeding? Will I pass my cold on to him? Are the medications I’m going to take safe for him?

The short answer is yes—you should keep breastfeeding. And not just because it’s possible, but because it’s exactly what your baby needs right now. We’ll explain why—and, most importantly, how to physically manage breastfeeding when you’re exhausted from illness.

The first question: Will I pass the infection on to my baby while breastfeeding?

That’s the number one concern, and it’s understandable. But the answer is no—you don’t pass the virus on to your baby through your breast milk. Respiratory viruses such as the rhinovirus (which causes the common cold), the flu virus, or seasonal coronaviruses do not pass into breast milk. Transmission occurs through the air and direct contact, not through breastfeeding.

Even better: when you have a cold, your immune system produces specific antibodies against the virus that has infected you. These antibodies pass into your breast milk within a few hours—sometimes even before you feel the first symptoms. By breastfeeding, you pass on to your baby tailored immune protection, produced in real time against the exact virus to which you’re both exposed.

In other words: Stopping breastfeeding when you're sick would deprive your baby of its best defenses at the very moment it needs them most. That's exactly the opposite of what you should do.

Some Basic Precautions to Take While You're Sick

While breast milk itself does not infect the baby, transmission can still occur through other means during feedings and care. A few simple steps are all it takes to reduce the risk.

Wash your hands thoroughly before each feeding and before touching your baby—this is the most effective way to limit transmission through contact.

Avoid kissing your baby on the face when you have severe symptoms; you can still kiss them on the head or stomach.

If you sneeze or cough while breastfeeding, turn your head away and cover your mouth with your elbow—not with the hand holding the baby.

Wearing a mask while breastfeeding is an option if you have severe symptoms and want to maximize protection, but it's not required—the antibodies in your milk more than make up for it.

Medications That Are Safe to Take While Breastfeeding

This is often where things get complicated. You want to take care of yourself, you need medication to get by, but you don't know what's safe to take while breastfeeding. Here's what you can take safely—and what to avoid.

What Is Safe to Use While Breastfeeding

Acetaminophen (Doliprane, Efferalgan, Dafalgan) is the first-line medication for breastfeeding mothers. It is safe to take while breastfeeding at all doses and for babies of all ages. It’s your number one ally against fever, pain, and sore throats.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen) is also safe to take while breastfeeding at standard doses. Very small amounts pass into breast milk, and it is considered safe according to most medical guidelines. It is particularly effective for inflammatory conditions such as sore throats and sinus infections.

Saline solution for the nose is completely safe to use and is even recommended. Blow your nose with saline solution to clear your nasal passages without using medication.

Seawater-based nasal sprays (Physiomer, Sterimar) are completely safe and very effective for safely relieving nasal congestion.

Throat lozenges made from natural ingredients (honey, propolis, licorice) are generally safe—check the ingredients and avoid those containing essential oils, some of which are contraindicated during breastfeeding.

What to Avoid or Check

Oral nasal decongestants (pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine) are generally not recommended while breastfeeding. They pass into breast milk and can reduce milk production, in addition to their potential effects on the baby. Avoid medications such as Rhinadvil, Dolirhume, or Actifed, which contain these ingredients.

First-generation antihistamines (diphenhydramine, chlorphenamine), which are found in some cold and allergy medications, can cause drowsiness and irritability in babies; they should be avoided or used only under medical supervision.

Local decongestant nasal sprays (oxymetazoline, xylometazoline), such as Rhinofluimucil or Pivalone, should be used with caution and, ideally, only after consulting a doctor, as small amounts of some of these medications may pass into breast milk.

Antibiotics always require a doctor's advice, but keep in mind that the vast majority of common antibiotics (amoxicillin, azithromycin, cephalosporins) are safe to take while breastfeeding. Don't avoid necessary treatment out of fear that it might interfere with breastfeeding—talk to your doctor about it.

The golden rule: check before you take it

If you have any questions about a medication, there are two authoritative resources in France. The Reference Center for Teratogenic Agents (CRAT) at crat.fr provides reliable information on the safety of medications during breastfeeding. You can also call a pharmacist directly, who can check for you in just a few minutes.

Never self-medicate without checking first, but don't let the fear of interactions stop you from seeking treatment—the vast majority of common medications are safe to take while breastfeeding.

How to Stay Physically Strong When You're Breastfeeding and Sick

That's when it gets really tough. Being sick with a baby is exhausting in a way that only moms can truly understand. You can't stay in bed—your baby needs you. You can't stop functioning. And breastfeeding on top of that takes energy you might not have.

Here's how to get through this period without letting it overwhelm you.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

This is the top priority when you're sick and breastfeeding. A cold and a fever cause you to lose a lot of fluids. Breastfeeding also requires a lot of fluids. The combination of the two can quickly lead to dehydration, and dehydration reduces milk production.

Drink at least two to three liters a day: water, hot herbal teas, broths, or lemon water with honey. Keep a bottle of water in every room of the house where you breastfeed, and make sure to drink some every time you feed your baby.

Eat even if you're not hungry

Illness often takes away your appetite, but your body needs fuel to produce milk and fight the infection at the same time. Choose foods that are easy to eat and digest: hot soups, nutrient-rich broths, yogurt, blended fruit, and oatmeal. If you really can't eat, drink nutrient-rich broths to get minerals and calories.

Sleep when baby sleeps

The classic piece of advice that no one follows—and yet it’s even more true when you’re sick. When the baby sleeps, you sleep. The dishes and laundry can wait. Your body needs sleep to recover and fight off the infection—every hour of sleep counts double when you’re sick.

Delegating Without Guilt

If you have someone at home—a spouse, parents, or in-laws—now is the time to ask for help without hesitation. Anything other than breastfeeding can be handled by someone else: bathing the baby, meals, housework, and errands. Focus on breastfeeding and your recovery; the rest can wait or be delegated.

If you're alone with your baby, keep things as simple as possible. Make meals as simple as possible, go out only when necessary, and allow yourself to put your baby in a safe place so you can rest for a few minutes—even a three-month-old can be placed on their play mat while you lie down for five minutes.

Breastfeeding While Lying Down

When you're sick, the side-by-side lying-down breastfeeding position is your best friend. Lie on your side with your baby facing you and lying down as well, and let him nurse while you rest. You don’t need to sit up stiffly, holding your baby in your arms. This position allows you to rest while nursing, and some moms even doze off a little while their baby is still at the breast.

The Impact of a Cold on Your Milk Supply

A common concern: Will my productivity drop when I'm sick?

The illness itself does not directly affect lactation. What can reduce milk production when you have a cold is dehydration if you don’t drink enough, extreme fatigue—which can slightly affect the production of lactogenic hormones—and the stress and anxiety associated with the illness, which inhibit the production of oxytocin.

The solution to all of this can be summed up in three words: drink, sleep, and breastfeed. Keep feeding on demand, stay well-hydrated, get as much rest as possible, and your milk supply will stay steady in the vast majority of cases.

If you notice a significant drop, increase the frequency of feedings while you're sick. Your body will resume production as soon as you feel better.

What if you have the flu instead of just a cold?

The flu is a step above a cold—high fever, intense body aches, total exhaustion. But the basic principle remains the same: keep breastfeeding.

The same guidelines apply for paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat fever and body aches: stay well-hydrated and get plenty of rest. The flu does not pass through breast milk, but your flu antibodies do pass into your milk to protect your baby.

If you have a high fever (over 39°C) that doesn't respond to acetaminophen, if you're having trouble breathing, if you're feeling very unwell after several days, or if your baby is also showing severe symptoms, see a doctor. Not to stop breastfeeding, but to receive proper care.

Gastroenteritis: A Special Case

Gastroenteritis deserves a separate section because it raises an additional question: When you’re vomiting and have diarrhea, can you maintain your milk supply?

The answer is yes, but dehydration is even more severe and sets in even faster. If you have a stomach bug, drink as soon as you can keep fluids down—water, broth, or oral rehydration solution. Milk production may drop temporarily during the toughest 24 to 48 hours, but it will pick up again as soon as you’re rehydrated.

Stomach viruses are not transmitted through breast milk, so continue breastfeeding while practicing very strict hand hygiene.

In summary: What to keep in mind when you're sick and breastfeeding

Question	Answer
Can you breastfeed when you have a cold?	Yes, absolutely—it's even good for the baby
Does the virus pass into breast milk?	No—antibodies, yes; the virus, no
Is acetaminophen safe to take?	Yes, it's the standard treatment.
Is ibuprofen safe to take?	Yes, at standard doses
Are oral decongestants safe to use?	No, best to avoid
Will milk production decline?	Only if you get dehydrated—drink plenty of fluids
How can I stay physically fit?	Stay hydrated, delegate, breastfeed while lying down, sleep when the baby sleeps

Getting sick while breastfeeding is tough, but you can get through it. And when it’s all over, your baby will be protected by your antibodies, and you’ll be all better—and even prouder of yourself.

To breastfeed comfortably even on days when you have a cold or are stuck at home, check out our Breastfeeding sweaters at knit and our nursing sweatshirts—the softest and warmest pieces in the collection, designed for days when comfort is what matters most.