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Can breastfeeding weaken my immune system?

3,046 views · Published 7 September 2018 · 1:41 · Indexed 29 September 2026

Channel: IntermountainParents · 2018 · Education

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You wanted to know if breastfeeding can weaken your immune system. And it actually goes back to pregnancy, because during pregnancy, a woman's immune system is actually suppressed a little bit in order to allow for the baby to grow, and thrive, and get what they need. And so this immunity isn't immediately built right back up after delivery of the baby. It takes some time. So during the postpartum period while a woman is breastfeeding, her immune system is just starting to rev back up to where it was before she got pregnant, and so it's not due to the breastfeeding, it's due to the pregnancy if a woman has a slightly weakened immune system. But with that said, the slight suppression of a woman's immune system that happens during pregnancy shouldn't make it so that the woman catches everything that comes her way. A woman shouldn't be that vulnerable.

So if you feel like you're overly sick, there are some things that you can do. First of all, just make sure that you're drinking a lot of water and staying well-hydrated, you're eating a healthy diet, and exercising. And sleep is also really important, but when you have a newborn, sleep is not easy to come by, so that's also something that may be a contributing factor. But in the end, if you feel like you're sick a lot of the time, talk with your doctor. And after asking you more specific questions and based on their knowledge of your history and circumstances, they'll be able to give you tailored information and advice and determine if further investigation is warranted. If you have more questions in the future for me, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/IntermountainMoms, and recommend us to your friends and family too.

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