If a pregnant client tests positive for hepatitis B virus, what should the nurse inform her regarding breastfeeding?

When a pregnant client tests positive for the hepatitis B virus, it is important for her to know that breastfeeding is not contraindicated. In fact, breastfeeding is allowed and encouraged after the baby has received the hepatitis B vaccine and the hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) within the appropriate timeframe after birth. These interventions significantly reduce the risk of the newborn contracting the virus through breastfeeding.

The rationale behind this guidance is based on the understanding that the benefit of breastfeeding—providing essential nutrients and antibodies to the infant—outweighs the risks associated with the hepatitis B virus when proper preventive measures are in place. Additionally, the virus is not transmitted through breast milk but rather through blood and certain bodily fluids.

Other choices do not align with the best practices informed by current public health guidelines regarding hepatitis B and breastfeeding, as they either completely restrict breastfeeding or suggest unnecessary delays that could deprive the infant of its benefits.