Management of Cracked Nipples in Breastfeeding Mothers with Hepatitis C

Special Considerations for Hepatitis C-Positive Mothers

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends abstaining from breastfeeding if nipples are bleeding or cracked in HCV-positive mothers, while the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) suggests consideration of stopping breastfeeding and seeking specialist input in such cases 1, 2, 3
• Temporary breastfeeding cessation and expressing milk until healing occurs may be necessary, especially in mothers with hepatitis C virus (HCV), as recommended by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Journal of Hepatology 1, 2, 3, 4