For many families, newborns mean hope. So, when hepatitis B mothers breastfeed, how to avoid mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B and take good care of their newborn babies? Next, I'll give hepatitis B mothers some breastfeeding advice:
First, if the mother is positive for HBeAg (hepatitis B e antigen) and HBV DNA ≥ 106 copies/ml, at this time, it is important to inform the patient that breastfeeding may be at risk, if the patient insists on breastfeeding, the doctor should recommend regular monitoring of the patient's anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody) level;
Second, wash your hands before feeding, gently wipe the nipple with a warm and clean towel before feeding the baby;
Third, skin, mucous membrane ulcers or damage, is the transmission channel of hepatitis B virus, therefore, when the mother has a cracked nipple or the baby's mouth ulcer, breastfeeding should be suspended. Breastfeed until the wound is restored, reducing the chance of the virus entering your baby's bloodstream directly.
Fourth, the baby and mother supplies are isolated, and the towels, washbasins, and cups used for drinking water should be used independently.
Why does breastfeeding not transmit the hepatitis B virus?
1. The probability of detection of hepatitis B virus in breast milk is very low; the content is also very small.
2. Hepatitis B is a blood infectious disease, and hepatitis B virus cannot be transmitted through the digestive tract.
3. Newborns are immunized by hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin, and already have protective antibodies in the body.
Make a safer estimate. Suppose that the probability of detecting hepatitis B virus in breast milk is 1%, and the chance of hepatitis B virus entering the bloodstream through the digestive tract in breast milk is 1%.
Viruses that enter the blood also have a 1% chance of escaping the body's immune attack in the presence of antibodies in the blood, resulting in infection.
So the probability of breastfeeding causing infection is 0.01×0.01× 0.01 = 0.000001, that is, one in a million, is the probability of infection in one million worth worrying?