Dear Editor:
Can a patient who is HBeAg positive
breast-feed a newborn prior to the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine to the baby,
either at birth or within hours of birth?
LC
Dear LC:
If a newborn is scheduled for
HBIG and a first HBV vaccine shot within 12 hours of birth, it appears to be
safe to breast feed. Whether or not the first breast feeding can be within 12
hours for the two injections has not, to my knowledge, been directly studied,
but I would guess is safe. During breast feeding, care should be taken to avoid
trauma to the nipples, which at least theoretically, could increase the risk of
transmission. However, HBIG and HBV vaccine is highly (although not 100%) effective
in preventing transmission to the newborn.