I know that breastfeeding gives baby important immunity but i was wondering if anyone knows how this works? For example DS1 has currently got hand foot and mouth (again ) and i was wondering whether i have to contract it to give DS2 the antibodies through my bm or is it just enough that i have been exposed to it from DS1 having it.

Also DS1 has been having a terrible time with illness of late, its literally one thing after another. Would it be of any benefit to him if i expressed a bottle of ebm for him a day? Not sure if i can manage it with everything else but am willing to try if it would be of some benefit to him.

DH and and i currently taking garlic tablets and probiotics in a bid to also build up our own immunity (very sickly household here lol) and i was wondering if this is enough so that i can pass on immunity to DS2. DS2 and i had alot of antibiotics after his birth and i feel that the antibiotics i had have depleted my good bacteria and that may be why i have been getting so sick so often and i worry that this may be also the case for him. I would really like to protect him as much as possible with DS1 bringing home all these bugs.

Lots of questions i know but i thought someone may know a bit about it. TIA