Breast feeding and the flu

[Beatrix]

Got a few questions.

What's your best breast feeding friendly remedies for the flu? (its def not a cold)

What can you take?

And how protected is bubs? She is 2 months old, fully breast fed on demand which is about 4hrly even at night. I really don't want her to get it but know she has already been exposed.

[BellyBelly]

Lots of immune boosting things you can have - in fact in studies, vitamin D3 was found more effective at beating the flu than the flu vaccine. Green tea has plenty of antioxidants, lots of good water, coconut oil, garlic, vitamin C and fresh fruit and veg - especially leafy greens. If you have a juicer, make loads of yummy juices. I believe as your body fights it, the antibodies will be passed onto bubs through your milk.

Cut out any sugar, caffeine, processed wheat and dairy.

I added loads of immune boosting tips here: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/health...r-not-flu-shot

[OceanPrincess]

Gosh it sucks being sick while you're breastfeeding and can't take much hey?? Big hugs, I hope that whatever flu it is passes quickly and relatively painlessly...

Kelly's given you some great tips on natural immune boosters. Unfortunately you can't take much more than paracetamol or ibuprofen as far as medications go Even echinacea is not ok while breastfeeding so dose up on Vitamin C and the other things above, plus paracetamol or ibuprofen as you need.

As for bubs - you are already producing the antibodies for this virus as your body fights it so keep up the feeds and they will pass through in your milk. No one can tell how protected she it but the hope is that you will protect her, but even if she does get it, she will hopefully get a much less virulent dose due to your exposure.

Just keep up the feeds.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

I find this all really interesting and should be studying it more in depth next semester and can't wait.

In terms of maternal protection: there are five groups of immunoglobulins.
Infants are protected for the first 6-9 months with only the very tiny maternal antibodies that were able to pass the placenta, this only covers one of the group of immunoglobulins - IgG. This is for specific immunity - might be from your vax status or from various infections you have had. Breastfeeding protection is offered from all groups but mostly in abundance by IgA group which is specific to the gastrointestinal tract - vomiting, diarrhea, etc...

To my knowledge the real 'immunity use' of breastmilk is its high levels of white blood cells which are literally disease eaters, so in the case a child does become sick it normally recovers quite quickly. From memory, research has also found that babies salivary contact (and therefore it's content) with the breast is what stimulates antibody production for the infant, so it is not really maternal specific, but rather by the mechanism of breastfeeding, enabling YOUR body to create the antibodies that will work for baby.

Pretty cool, but yep, keep feeding. And get better soon x

[BellyBelly]

I found a really interesting article about this sort of thing The[cookie]Doctor, but about Whooping Cough not the flu. Its really long and I have not read the full thing yet, but the first half really intrigued me and was written by a doctor too.

Vitamin C for Whooping Cough. Updated Edition. Suzanne Humphries, MD | International Medical Council on Vaccination

[AnyDream]

Plenty of liquids, as many antioxidants as you can pack into yourself (eg vitamin c, blueberries, tomato soup, red and leafy green veggies etc) and as much rest as you can possibly get. And probiotics - yoghurt, etc.

Bubs will benefit from the antibodies that you produce. Still, it might be a good time to think about extra hygeine measures like washing your hands everytime you are going to touch your baby, airing out the room, etc.