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Can You Breastfeed After A Wasp Sting?

Writer Emily Cortez

Breast milk is possibly the most powerful natural substance on earth. It offers incredible benefits to babies. There is no denying that breast milk is the most beneficial and nourishing food for your bundle of joy. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should be given for at least one year of their life. Besides, there are plenty of benefits of prolonged breastfeeding.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around
Now, if a wasp has stung you, you must be wondering how it would affect you and your ability to breastfeed your child. The thing about a wasp sting is that it only affects the area of your body that has been stung. Since the sting is unlikely to be around the bosom, you should be able to breastfeed your baby. In fact, breast milk is super powerful and can even heal the sting as well as other skin irritations. Therefore, you can simply apply a small amount of it onto the irritated area. Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

Insect venom consists of histamine, hyaluronidase, phospholipases, proteases, amines, polypeptides, and other substances. Due to the high molecular weight of milk, it is not possible for most of the substances to pass into the milk. Even if some of the substances pass into the milk, they would be inactivated in the gastrointestinal tract of the baby and would not get absorbed. However, this is not the case for premature babies as an increased permeability in the intestine would prove harmful.

According to a report, a 12-days-old newborn who was breastfed an hour after the mother had been stung by a bee had a mild allergic-like reaction on the newborn. Insect bites such as antibiotics, corticosteroids, epinephrine, antihistamines, and repellents can be treated by using topical or systemic products. If a mother has been bitten by a spider, bee, wasp, or mosquito, there is no need to interrupt breastfeeding.

Only if the mother experiences widespread reaction or the infant is less than a month old should the mother wait for at least 3 hours before resuming breastfeeding. It is crucial to note that the bite of certain insects, especially mosquitoes, can lead to the transmission of infectious diseases such as the Zika virus. However, the virus would not be transmitted through the milk. However, it is important that you stay safe and practice caution as such a virus can prove deadly. As a mother, it is pertinent to be extra careful to ensure your safety.

Should You Breastfeed Your Baby After A Wasp Sting?

As you might have gotten an idea from the above, it is perfectly fine to breastfeed your baby after a wasp sting. You need to make sure that you do not feed your baby immediately if it is a newborn. However, as your child grows, you can rest assured that it would be perfectly fine. There is no need to stress about anything as you should be able to breastfeed your baby without any hassle. You can even use the milk and apply it to the sting.