How do I fight the flu while breastfeeding?

Fighting the Flu While Breastfeeding: A Comprehensive Guide
As the flu season approaches, many breastfeeding mothers find themselves grappling with the challenge of managing their health while ensuring their infants remain safe and nourished. The good news is that breastfeeding during illness, including the flu, is generally safe and can even provide protective benefits to the baby.
Continue Breastfeeding
Health experts strongly encourage mothers who have the flu to continue breastfeeding. Breast milk contains antibodies that can help protect infants from infections, including the flu. According to the CDC, even if a mother is sick, she should be encouraged to breastfeed or provide expressed breast milk to her baby. This is crucial because the antibodies present in breast milk can bolster the infant’s immune system, offering them some level of protection against the virus.
Hygiene Practices
While breastfeeding, it’s essential for mothers to practice good hygiene to minimize the risk of transmitting the virus to their infants. This includes thoroughly washing hands before handling the baby or breast milk and wearing a mask while breastfeeding if the mother is symptomatic. These precautions can significantly reduce the likelihood of spreading the flu virus to the child.
Pumping and Alternative Feeding
If a mother feels too ill to breastfeed directly, pumping breast milk is a viable alternative. In such cases, it is advisable to have someone who is not sick feed the baby with the expressed milk. This method ensures that the baby continues to receive the nutritional and immunological benefits of breast milk while minimizing the risk of exposure to the flu virus.
Stay Hydrated and Rest
Mothers battling the flu should prioritize their own health by staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest. Drinking fluids like water, herbal teas, or chicken broth can help alleviate symptoms and support recovery. It’s important to remember that taking care of oneself is crucial not only for the mother’s health but also for maintaining a steady milk supply.
Vaccination as Prevention
Preventive measures are key in the fight against the flu. The flu vaccine is recommended for breastfeeding mothers and can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the virus. Vaccination not only protects the mother but also helps in passing on immunity to the baby through breast milk. Health professionals advocate for the flu vaccine during flu season for everyone aged six months and older, including breastfeeding mothers.
Consult Healthcare Providers
Finally, mothers should not hesitate to consult healthcare providers for personalized advice and support. They can provide guidance on managing flu symptoms safely while breastfeeding and recommend appropriate treatments that are safe for nursing mothers.
In conclusion, while facing the flu can be daunting for breastfeeding mothers, it is entirely manageable with the right strategies. By continuing to breastfeed, practicing good hygiene, staying hydrated, and considering vaccination, mothers can effectively combat the flu while ensuring their infants remain healthy and nourished.

Will my baby get sick if I’m sick and breastfeeding?

In fact, your body will actually start producing antibodies for those illnesses and pass those antibodies through your milk to your baby, effectively reducing the risk and severity of those illnesses to your infant and/or toddler.

Is emergen C safe to take while breastfeeding?

Yes, you can take Emergen-C while breastfeeding, but it’s important to not exceed the recommended dosage. Emergen-C is a supplement rich in vitamin C, often used for boosting immune health. However, while vitamin C is crucial for both you and your baby, consuming it in large amounts can cause digestive upset.

Can a breastfeeding mom pass flu to a baby?

Flu viruses do not pass through breast milk. Be careful not to cough or sneeze in baby’s face. Wash hands before touching baby. Before breastfeeding, wash breasts with mild soap and water.

Will my baby get the flu if I have it?

Your child can get a flu virus by touching something that was touched by an infected person, and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. People are most contagious with the flu 24 hours before symptoms start, and while symptoms are most active. The risk of infecting others often ends about day 5 to 7 of the illness.

What can I take for flu while breastfeeding?

Summary

• You can continue to breastfeed when you have a cough, cold, the flu or COVID-19.
• You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen whilst breastfeeding, at the normal adult doses.
• Oral decongestants are not recommended when you are breastfeeding as they can reduce your milk supply with just one or two doses.

How can I boost my immune system while breastfeeding?

How Breastfeeding Moms Can Strengthen Their Immunity

1. Eat a balanced diet. Following a well-rounded diet will help protect your body against colds, flus, and other illnesses.
2. Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated will help your immune system—and your milk supply, too.
3. Catch some ZZZs.
4. Get Moving.
5. Keep stress in check.

How to get rid of flu while breastfeeding?

For women who are breastfeeding with suspected or confirmed flu, the preferred antiviral medication is oral oseltamivir.

Can a baby get flu from its mother?

If a mother is not ill with the flu, breastfeeding is encouraged. If you are sick, you may need to express your milk for use in bottle feedings given by a healthy person. It is unlikely a newborn can catch flu from drinking your breast milk when you are sick. Breast milk is considered safe if you are taking antivirals.

Does having the flu affect your breast milk supply?

The flu can make even the toughest mom miserable, so self-care is important. Both illnesses and some medications can contribute to a decline in milk productivity, so mothers should keep a close eye on their production, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest.

Can I pass flu to my baby?

The flu virus is usually spread when people cough and sneeze, sending tiny droplets of the virus into the air. These germs either travel directly to another person or land on surfaces, where they can live for up to 24 hours.