Should breastfeeding be continued with STD?

If you have a sexually transmitted disease and are breastfeeding, it is essential to discuss the matter with your doctor. If it alright to continue breastfeeding if you have STDs like Chlamydia or gonorrhea. However, if you have syphilis or herpes, you need to be more careful. Always make sure that the sores are covered when you touch or breastfeed your baby. Contact with the sores can transmit the infection to your newborn and this can result in life threatening conditions. If your infection is severe or in secondary stages, you may have sores on other body parts other than the genital area. If there are sores on your nipple or areola, do not breastfeed from that breast. You can pump or hand express the milk so that the breasts do not get engorged and painful. Pumping the milk will also ensure that your milk supply keeps up. If the milk does not come into contact with the sores while it is being pumped, you can store this milk in a feeding bottle and give it to your baby. However, if the milk does come in contact with the sores, you should not give it to your baby. Another point of concern for most mothers is the safety of the treatment antibiotics while breastfeeding. Most STD medications are safe to use while breastfeeding. If you have any concerns regarding this, discuss it with your doctor.