Can a Breastfeeding Mother Donate Blood?
March 1, 2007 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breast milk, breastfeeding basics, health of the mother
Whether a breastfeeding mother should donate blood or not is subject to debate. Because donating blood removes fluid from the body and fluid levels can affect milk supply, a breastfeeding mother should carefully consider whether she should give blood and consult her doctor before doing so. In general though, a healthy mother with a well-established milk supply can donate blood.
In the American Red Cross guidelines, pregnant women are asked not to donate and nursing mothers are asked to wait six weeks after giving birth. The Canadian Blood Services temporarily defers women from giving blood if they’ve had a pregnancy within the last six months. The Australian Red Cross requires women to wait at least nine months after giving birth for the iron stores to replenish. It also requires that the mother wait even longer until the baby receives most of his or her nutrition from solid foods.
La Leche League experts are divided on the issue:
Dr. Gregory White, long-time senior medical advisor to LLLI, has always recommended caution in regard to breastfeeding mothers donating blood. On the other hand, Dr. Jack Newman, another member of the LLLI Health Advisory Council, says that any otherwise eligible mother can donate blood whether or not she is breastfeeding.
During blood donation about one pint (two cups, 450 ml or 16 fluid ounces) of blood is collected. According to the Canadian Blood Services, the plasma loss is replaced within hours. Because breast milk is 87% water, theoretically that temporary loss of fluid could affect milk supply and nursing mothers with supply issues might wish to refrain from donating blood. Others should consider drinking extra water before and after the donation as it’s important for a nursing mother to stay properly hydrated.
I donated blood about two weeks ago, I have a four month old who is pretty much exclusively breast fed, I pump twice daily during work as well. Anyway, since donating, my body has really struggled to get back to normal. My milk supply is still good, however, despite increasing liquids and iron foods, I have been very tired, light headed and just not feeling well. I will not donate again until I am done breast feeding.
I donated blood 2 weeks ago as well. We were having a blood drive at work and I was told that donating blood would NOT impact my ability to continue breastfeeding. That has not proven to be true for me! My son is 18 weeks old, and since I donated blood, my milk supply is less than 1/2 of what it was before I donated blood. Two weeks have passed and it has not returned to normal. I am not sure if I can increase my supply to what it was, but I plan to try, via taking fenugreek 3 x per day and pumping one extra time in the evenings. I work now, so it is not an option for me to start nursing and/or pumping all the time, to re-build my supply. I wish the blood service associates had been more forthcoming with this possible issue. Would it have killed them to wait until my son was weaned????
Holly, other than low milk supply have you experienced any other difficulties…I seriously, am just getting back to normal. I did notice for the first week now that I think about it, I was not pumping as much as I normally did. It is back to normal now…I just ate a lot of extra high protein foods and increased fluid intake. Keep me posted:O)
I am breastfeeding my 4th child and he is now 6 months. I went and donated blood and never had a decrease in milk supply. I guess if your milk supply is not well established, you should wait to donate blood until you are done breastfeeding.
I nurse a 23 month old and donated blood a couple of days ago. I had a very hard time immediately following donating but my supply is unaffected. I had probably three times the amount of water I usually have and took it easy for much of the day, but I think my milk supply was unharmed. I would not have donated if I were still establishing my supply.
I have a 6 mo old son and I’m breastfeeding. I’ve been thinking about giving blood and i have a good milk supply, but I’m wandering if it will affect my milk supply, very badly. Before I got pregnant I gave blood and I’ve never had a hard time returning to normal. Do you think that this would still hold true now that I’m breastfeeding?
I donated blood yesterday morning. I still breastfeed my 17 month old day and night. The blood donation has left me weak, light-headed, nauseas, and apparently decreased in milk supply, as my son has been nursing twice as much as normal and eating more solids. I’ve been drinking extra fluids and taking it very easy, but I still feel like crapola. I want my blood back.
I’m still nursing my 15-months-old daughter twice a day and I was thinking about donating blood. After reading your posts, I decided not to. My level of energy is already so low, I would not want it to get affected by anything…
I donated the other day, and I nurse my 11 month old 4 times a day. We’re currently living in a foreign country and my s.o. isn’t with us right now. I did it, but regretted it (and not having help after) for 2 days. I felt like I’d seriously put my body through the wringer fatigue-wise. But it’s the third day after and I’ve only experienced a moderate drop in milk supply, and my energy is almost normal. So, you can do it, but use some caution and sense! And make sure you’ve got a hand to hold after, that’s what got me.
i’ve a 14mnth old toddler and i was thinking about donating blood when i read the guidelines for blood donation.. but reading all the mails send by the donated mothers… i feel i should not think about it…. thank u…..