Q: Is it safe to dive while breast-feeding an infant?
A: Yes, it is safe. A mother’s breast milk is not adversely affected by diving, and there is no risk of decompression sickness for the infant. Although nitrogen accumulates in all of the tissues and fluids of the mother’s body, washout of inert gas occurs quickly after a safe dive.
Insignificant amounts of nitrogen may be present in the mother’s breast milk, but it is inert and poses no risk to the infant. However, because of the possible risk of bacterial growth on the skin under a suit, careful cleansing of the breast after diving and before feeding may help prevent systemic illness.
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This article was originally published in Scuba Diver UK #79
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