Many nursing mothers wonder if the flu can be transmitted through breast milk and if so, what should mothers do to ensure the health of their babies.
Many nursing mothers wonder if the flu can be transmitted through breast milk and if so, what should mothers do to ensure the health of their babies.
The flu is a respiratory illness caused by a virus or bacteria. The disease spreads very quickly and easily becomes an epidemic. The flu is not too dangerous, sometimes without using medicine, it can still go away on its own. However, for women who are in the period of breastfeeding, any abnormal signs on the body can affect the health of the baby. Many mothers wonder if the flu can be transmitted through breast milk?
Symptoms of the flu
People with flu have symptoms of runny nose, stuffy nose
When infected with viruses and bacteria, the mother's body will have common symptoms such as:
- Sore throat, cough: First, there is a burning sensation in the neck, difficulty swallowing, then coughs appear
- Runny nose, stuffy nose: In 1-2 days after sore throat, the patient will have a runny nose, stuffy nose, runny nose, ...
- Fever: When the body is infected, there will be a fever. Usually, the fever caused by the flu is not too high, only about 48-49 degrees Celsius.
- Headache: If the fever lasts for a long time, the patient is prone to dehydration, headache and fatigue.
Can colds be transmitted through breast milk?
The flu is not transmitted through breast milk
Influenza is a disease that is usually transmitted through the respiratory tract or by direct contact with an infected person or by sharing objects. That's why a mother with a cold can easily pass it on to her baby. However, it is easy to spread, but the flu virus is difficult to penetrate into milk, so it is not transmitted through breast milk.
However, the contact: hugging, holding, etc. of the mother with her child is the ideal condition for the flu virus to spread. Therefore, pediatricians recommend that women who have a cold or flu should still breastfeed as usual. Just limit contact with the respiratory tract, touch, ... with children.
Preventing illness for children when mother has a cold
Mothers should limit contact with their children during colds and flu
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for babies. In order for the child to develop comprehensively, the mother should breastfeed her baby regularly and with enough meals. If the disease does not affect the baby much, continue to breastfeed. When you catch a cold, you can take the following preventive measures:
- When there are signs such as sneezing, coughing continuously, coughing with phlegm, you need to see a doctor to make sure you have a cold and how to treat it to suit your condition.
- Isolate with the baby for a while, only contact when breastfeeding.
- When breastfeeding, you should wear gloves, a mask, and glasses.
- Remember to clean the nipple with warm salt water before feeding to kill bacteria.
- It takes at least 2 weeks to resume normal direct contact with the baby.
It is important when you have a cold to carry out regular hygiene such as: wash your hands with antibacterial soap, cough or wipe your nose with a tissue and throw it away immediately after use. Minimize touching the baby's face, feet, hands, clothes, etc. Regularly rinse your mouth with salt water, eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, add vitamin C to quickly recover from the disease.
Also, be sure to tell your doctor that you're breastfeeding to avoid prescriptions containing antihistamines, which can affect your baby through breast milk.