Is it safe to breastfeed if I have hepatitis B? Yes, unless your nipples are cracked or bleeding. If a woman’s nipples are cracked or bleeding, it is recommended the woman pauses breastfeeding and consults a midwife until the nipples recover. Babies whose mothers have hepatitis B should also get a birth dose injection and vaccines to protect them against hepatitis B. Find out more about vaccination against hepatitis B References WHO. (1996, November 22). Hepatitis B and breastfeeding. Chen, X., Chen, J., Wen, J., Xu, C., Zhang, S., Zhou, Y.-H., & Hu, Y. (2013). Breastfeeding Is Not a Risk Factor for Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus. PLoS One. Updated 2 December 2019