Flu during breastfeeding. Treatment of influenza during lactation: how to cope with the virus for a nursing mother Flu medications for nursing mothers

Text: Evgenia Bagma

There is still a surprising misconception that the flu while breastfeeding can harm the baby and breastfeeding should be stopped at the first signs of illness. Although, in fact, everything is completely the opposite. Flu in a nursing mother is not at all a reason to leave a child without breast milk.

Flu in a nursing mother and breastfeeding

If flu in a nursing mother has already made itself felt, then it is not only not necessary for her to stop breastfeeding, but, on the contrary, it is highly not recommended. The fact is that infection of the body occurs before the first symptoms of the disease appear. So, even before a woman develops a fever, a runny nose and a sore throat, her baby will receive the virus itself, antibodies to it, and immune protection against the virus through milk. Therefore, by the time the flu finally shows up in a mother, her baby will either already be sick along with her or protected by breast milk. It can be said that breast milk- this is a natural vaccine against flu while breastfeeding for a baby. By depriving the child of this milk, the mother takes away from him an effective, “individually developed” medicine. Another mistake is boiling breast milk - this will destroy all its protective properties. A gauze bandage is also an unnecessary measure, since the causative agent of the disease is already present in breast milk.

Neither the patient nor the healthy child. By stopping feeding, the mother only exposes the child to the risk of illness or complicates its course. Flu in a nursing mother poses less danger to the child when he receives all the protective and antimicrobial substances he needs with milk. For the same reason, infants who are artificial feeding, suffer more severely from the influenza virus and get sick more often and longer.

How to treat flu in a nursing mother?

Flu during breastfeeding is dangerous due to its complications, which are completely unnecessary for a nursing mother, but, unfortunately, not all medicines may be compatible with lactation. Home remedies remain. So, as symptomatic remedies, for example, to treat cough, they can be used breast collection, licorice root, radish juice with honey, etc. Antiviral drugs based on interferon are allowed during lactation. A nursing mother who has the flu should drink a lot - herbal teas, fruit drinks, water. To reduce the temperature, use paracetamol or Nurofen (never aspirin). All medications must be prescribed by a doctor.

An indication for stopping breastfeeding is the incompatibility of any drug with lactation, but there is the following aspect. The fact is that clinical trials of the safety of the drug for pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants are not mandatory for registration of the drug on the market. Since this procedure is expensive, it is easier for pharmaceutical companies to indicate that the medicine is contraindicated in such cases. But don’t rush to stop feeding! Always check medicines prescribed by your doctor against WHO references before you stop breastfeeding on the advice of your doctor, acting in accordance with the instructions for the medicine. In any case, even if it turns out that the drug is dangerous during lactation, perhaps there is a safer analogue. Flu in a nursing mother does not eliminate the possibility of drug treatment.

Flu while breastfeeding is not a reason to neglect the mother’s health by refusing treatment, and also not a reason to deprive the child of adequate nutrition. If the mother is already sick, she should rest as often as possible, be treated as thoroughly as possible and feed the baby as often as possible, protecting him from the virus.

The period of breastfeeding is as important as the period of pregnancy (bearing a child). The stage of development and formation continues physical health a child who completely depends on the health and lifestyle of the mother herself. If during this period a woman falls ill with the flu, then she needs to know about ways to heal herself so as not to harm the child and restore her health. Many medications become prohibited for a woman who is treating the flu and breastfeeding her baby.

The website indicates that already at the stage of the incubation period, the woman transmits the virus to the child, which will also begin to develop in his body. However, you should not stop breastfeeding when a woman becomes ill. Along with mother's milk, the child is given antibodies that are produced by her body, which fights on its own. The baby's body needs the mother's antibodies, which are stronger than his own immunity. And since the mother infected the child with the virus, it should also help in recovery.

If you deny a child breast milk, then this will follow:

Decreased immunity.
Nervousness.
Worried state.
Exacerbation of the disease.
Increase in temperature.
Increased chills, runny nose and watery eyes.
Increased inflammation.
Strengthening and head.
Increased aches in muscles and joints.

The baby should be given mother's milk in the form in which it is produced by the body. There is no need to boil it, because in this case it will lose all its beneficial and medicinal properties. This will be similar to the baby switching to artificial feeding.

Doctors believe that the cause of the development of influenza in the mother’s body is additional load on respiratory system, which appears both during pregnancy and during breastfeeding. It takes a lot of energy to produce milk, so a woman may feel short of breath.

Drug treatment

Flu should not be left untreated, as complications always develop after it. However, the treatment process is complicated by the fact that a nursing woman cannot take absolutely any medications that will help her in recovery, which is associated with the penetration of components into mother’s milk and further into the baby’s body. Drug treatment permissible. However, you should carefully read the instructions for use or consult a gynecologist or pediatrician.

You can use drugs of the interferon group, since they have a gentle effect. As for antibiotics, aspirin and paracetamol, these drugs should not be taken. These drugs are harmful not only to the virus, but also to the antibodies that are transferred to the baby. Antibiotics also have a detrimental effect on the intestinal microflora, which is why they are recommended to be taken with yogurt or kefir to restore health.

Strengthening property, in which the walls of blood vessels stop inflaming and swelling.
Activation of carbohydrate metabolism.
Redox processes.
Cell regeneration.
Education steroid hormones.
Synthesis of connective tissue cells.

However, even this drug should be taken strictly according to dosage and course of treatment.

In principle, every woman should first study information about a particular medicine before taking it. It is advisable to first consult with a doctor who will prescribe exactly those medications that are permissible during breastfeeding. Then you should study the package insert for the drug, especially the “Contraindications” column.

It would not hurt to read any information regarding the drug on the Internet. Remember that many drugs are not tested for compatibility with lactation. These studies are quite expensive, and their implementation is not necessary to release a medicine. Therefore, every woman should understand that the package insert may say “Do not take during lactation,” but in fact, the developers do not know for sure about the effect of the medicine on the woman and her baby.

You can read reviews on the Internet ordinary people, especially nursing women who have already used medications during lactation when they had the flu.

Home treatment

Flu does not need to be treated in a hospital. You can even resort to folk medicine, which is also effective and safe enough for a nursing mother:

Drink more water, juices, fruit drinks and compotes. This will ensure the normalization of water-salt balance, the removal of toxins and the quality of milk.
Make a chest mixture to eliminate cough: thyme, anise, ivy, licorice root, thyme, plantain, radish juice mixed with honey.
Dress warmly and do not heat the room with appliances that dry out the air.
Stick to bed rest to make your body stronger.
Ventilate the room.
Eat a balanced diet, without overeating or starving.
Put your baby to your breast more often, which will increase the circulation of fluids in the body.
Humidify the air and clean the room.
Saturate the air with oxygen.
If you have a runny nose, you can put the solution in your nose sea salt, propolis and onion juice.

You should check the temperature under your arms to make sure it is not too high. Otherwise, you need to consult a doctor.

It is forbidden to take hot baths for the feet, since the woman is already burning from the high temperature, and the addition of additional heat will lead to an influx of milk in the breasts, which can cause stagnation. In this case, you need to apply a cold compress to the breast, express the milk or give it to the baby.

Homeopathic treatment

Homeopathic treatment does not require an exact diagnosis. If a woman feels unwell, she can use any medicine in this area that has no contraindications or age restrictions. The medicine does not cure the disease, but strengthens the body as a whole.

You can resort to natural antibiotics:

Lilac.
Garlic.
Sage.
Needles.
Pine.
Chamomile.
Calendula.

It's important to understand

If a woman gets sick, it is important for her to understand that her lifestyle is not conducive to health. She can not only get sick herself, but also lead to illnesses in the baby. If she does not want to face difficulties, then all the measures she takes during cold weather and flu epidemics should be reconsidered.

The following preventive measures will be taken:

Walking in the fresh air.
Taking vitamins.
Protecting yourself and your baby from crowded places.
Being in a good mood.

Forecast

Flu is dangerous not so much for the mother as for her child, who is less protected. A woman should protect herself for a time until her child reaches one year of age and gets stronger. If the disease has developed, then you need to be treated, which will certainly improve the prognosis further development events. It is better to do this together with a pediatrician, who will primarily care about the baby’s health.

Acute respiratory diseases (ARI), or, as they are called in everyday life, colds, are a group of diseases caused by various viruses, mainly affecting the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and causing general intoxication of the body (its symptoms are headache, muscle pain, lethargy, weakness). It would seem that acute respiratory infections are not such a terrible diagnosis, because almost every person “catch” this infection at least once a year. But a cold in a nursing mother is a special case. What can you do to keep your baby as safe as possible?

Svetla Babylonskaya
gynecologist, employee of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology of the Moscow State Medical Dental University, Ph.D.

Course of the disease

The duration of a cold ranges from several days to several weeks. Infection with acute respiratory infections occurs by inhaling droplets of sputum containing viruses that enter the air from sick people when coughing, sneezing and talking.

In the human body, viruses multiply rapidly in the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. Each type of acute respiratory infection virus has a “predilection” for a specific part of the upper respiratory tract. For example, the parainfluenza virus - to the mucous membrane of the nasal passages and larynx, rhinoviruses - mainly to the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. As a result, patients develop swelling and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract affected by the infection. From there, viruses enter the blood and spread to various organs.

Susceptibility to acute respiratory infections in nursing mothers is very high: their respiratory organs constantly work under high load, since milk production requires high energy consumption and large quantity oxygen.

From the penetration of the virus into the upper respiratory tract to the development of the disease, an average of 1 to 3 days passes.

The main signs of all types of colds are fever, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, and cough.

As a rule, the course of acute respiratory infections is not severe and short-lived (from 3 to 10 days). However, these diseases (especially influenza) are dangerous due to their complications. They escalate chronic diseases, including “silent” foci of infection. Therefore, treatment should not be neglected when acute respiratory infections occur, even if the disease is easily tolerated.

Treatment

Treatment of acute respiratory infections should begin as early as possible. At the first signs of the disease, you should consult a doctor who can recommend appropriate therapy. At home, a sick mother should wear a disposable mask, which must be changed every 2 hours. There is no need to stop breastfeeding if acute respiratory infections occur, except in cases of prescribing medications that are incompatible with breastfeeding.

Not created yet effective drug against viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Tools such as REMANTADINE, RIBOVIRIN, ARBIDOL, which suppress the reproduction of almost all viruses, are effective only as a prophylaxis or in the first hours of the disease. But they have side effects, which can also appear in a child: they disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, causing abdominal pain and loose stool; increase nervous excitability; may occur on the skin allergic rash. Yes and when using IMMUNALA, a complex homeopathic preparation AFLUBINA possible allergic reactions at the baby's.

Doctors do not recommend that nursing mothers use these medications. However, in case of acute respiratory infections for the purpose of prevention or treatment, they can be instilled into the nasal passages GRIPPFERON(recombinant? genetically engineered alpha?2b human interferon), which has no contraindications and does not cause side effects.

In addition, suppositories can be used when treating nursing women. VIFERON, representing a complex of recombinant alpha-2b human interferon in combination with tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid.

It should be remembered that in case of a viral infection, the use of antibiotics is not justified. Antibacterial drugs do not act on viruses, therefore symptomatic therapy is carried out aimed at reducing intoxication and increasing the body's defenses. Of course, in some cases, the doctor may suspect the presence of a bacterial complication, such as a sore throat or pneumonia, and prescribe an antibiotic combined with breastfeeding (you need to check this information with your doctor). If you need to appoint a specific antibacterial agent, which is not combined with breastfeeding, then breastfeeding should be stopped for the duration of treatment, and the milk should be expressed by hand or with a breast pump and poured out.

IN symptomatic therapy includes the appointment of plenty of warm drinks. This is an important measure that prevents drying of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat and helps to thin sputum, sweating and reduce the level of intoxication.

It must be remembered that an increase in temperature during a cold is important defense mechanism. It is by the temperature reaction that the doctor will be able to timely diagnose the development of a bacterial complication of acute respiratory infections, and the uncontrolled use of antipyretic drugs can distort the picture. Most safe means reducing high fever (above 38.5 degrees C) in nursing mothers is PARACETAMOL, which should be prescribed by a specialist. Such popular means for a cold, like THERAFLUE, COLDREX, FERVEX etc., it is not recommended for breastfeeding women, because Their effect on this group of people has not been fully studied.

To reduce cough expectorants are prescribed to thin out mucus, for example AMBROXOL (LAZOLVAN), which allows you to cleanse the bronchi and restore their functions. Preparations, main active substance which is bromhexine, are contraindicated for lactating and pregnant women.

When coughing, nursing women will be helped by herbal preparations based on licorice root, anise, ivy, thyme, thyme, plantain and other herbal ingredients that promote the removal of mucus from the bronchi, for example BREAST ELIXIR(take 20-40 drops several times a day), GEDELIX, TUSSAMAG, BRONCHICUM, DOCTOR MOM.

At runny nose may be useful vasoconstrictor drops easing nasal breathing NAFAZOLINE (NAPHTHYZIN), XYLOMETAZOLINE (GALAZOLIN),TETRIZOLINE (TIZIN), OXYMETAZOLINE (NAZIVIN). They can be used no longer than 3-5 days. The drug will be useful plant origin– oil drops PINOSOL, which has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

If you have a runny nose, you can use sprays to moisturize the nasal mucosa. AQUAMARIS, SALIN, prepared on the basis sea water. These drugs thin out mucus, improving its discharge, and help normalize the functioning of the nasal mucosa.

At sore throat it is possible to use antiseptic (antimicrobial) drugs local action HEXORAL(solution, spray), CHLORHEXIDINE, IODINOL(gargling solution), lozenges SEBIDIN, STREPSILS. Used to lubricate the pharyngeal mucosa LUGOL'S SOLUTION (aqueous solution potassium iodine).

Every year, a new strain of influenza is discovered that poses an increasing threat to human health. Everyone knows the names of “bird” and “swine” flu, which make vigilant parents tremble. Flu during breastfeeding is especially alarming for young mothers. An epidemic of such a disease prompts many to think about therapeutic and preventive measures effects on the body.

The only normal way to feed newborn babies is breastfeeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly recommends feeding your baby breast milk. It is mother's milk that plays a decisive role in education immune system children, in the correct formation general health, lays the foundation for the functioning of the organ system. Breastfeeding has a powerful psychophysiological effect on the baby through his mother. A prolonged stop of this process can provoke severe deviations in the development of the baby. Influenza in a nursing mother is not considered a reason to stop breastfeeding.

For what reasons do experts advise against stopping breastfeeding even if the mother has the flu? What methods of treating the disease in lactation period are they allowed? Are there literate preventive measures for a nursing mother?

Features of colds in women during lactation

When the manifestation of a viral colds has become obvious, it is not recommended to stop breastfeeding. Infection of the body with a viral infection begins much earlier than the manifestation of the initial symptoms of the pathology. Therefore, before the first increase in body temperature, irritation of the nasal mucosa, or a sore throat in the mother, the baby will acquire a viral infection in breast milk, antiviral microelements, and maternal immunity to fight the disease.

At the time the mother’s disease fully manifests itself, the infection will already be present in the child’s body, as well as the antiviral protection contained in mother’s milk. In fact, breast milk is a protective substance of natural origin that has a powerful antiviral effect on the baby’s body.

Pinworms in a nursing mother and methods of treatment during breastfeeding

Therapeutic therapy during the lactation period

Treatment of a nursing mother is of a special nature and caution, because many medications are completely or partially incompatible for the mother’s body during lactation. Completely contraindicated self-treatment diseases. The first signs of pathology require a nursing woman to promptly respond to the disease, visit a doctor, diagnose the disease, and develop a competent treatment method.

Any use of medicinal drugs in the fight against pathology is carried out in strict accordance with the drawn up schedule and breastfeeding regimens.

In the case of such an approach, the probability of concentration of active substances is extremely reduced. chemical elements medication in breast milk. The schedule for using the medicine and feeding the baby is drawn up so that there is a sufficiently long period of time from taking the medicine to the next feeding. In case of influenza virus, a young mother is recommended to take symptomatic medications.

Key signs of the disease, their treatment

high temperature– it is recommended to use paracetamol in strict accordance with the instructions of the treating doctor;
sore throat - such symptoms are eliminated with the help of herbal decoctions, warm tea, warming procedures, gargling;
mucous secretions from the nasal cavity - rinse the nasopharynx with a soft saline solution;
severe cough - inhalation procedure with medicinal herbs.

Each anti-flu therapy must be agreed upon with a specialist. Especially when it comes to non-traditional methods of influencing the disease. Eliminating the symptoms of the disease involves the use of herbal and homeopathic remedies.

Extremely dangerous medications during the lactation period

Using a medication that is incompatible with breastfeeding. Medicines that do not contain clear instructions regarding the use of the drug during the period when active feeding occurs are contraindicated.

Taking an intentionally increased dose of a prescribed medication to speed up the treatment process. Don't forget, many medications are prescribed to relieve symptomatic signs without affecting the source of the disease itself. High content of elements medicine in mother's milk can easily cause a deterioration in the baby's well-being.

Popular positions for comfortable feeding of newborns

Preventive measures for influenza and lactation

Prevention and breastfeeding are also quite compatible. It is even recommended to protect the mother’s body from flu in a timely manner. What methods of preventing influenza viral infection should be used while breastfeeding? When an epidemic of a dangerous cold virus is approaching, it is best to extremely reduce your circle of contacts with the alleged carrier of the virus, limit visits public places. It is also recommended to fortify the body with appropriate foods and concentrated vitamin preparations.

It is recommended to regularly ventilate the living space and maintain humidity. Maintaining healthy image life will reduce the likelihood of infection: regular sleep, eliminating sources of stress and irritation, an active rhythm of life, walks in the park, a balanced diet.

Treatment of influenza and breastfeeding are quite compatible. It is not recommended to interrupt breastfeeding if you become infected with the influenza virus. Treatment is agreed with the doctor and carried out in strict accordance with his instructions.

In a nursing woman, the immune system does not recover immediately after childbirth, which makes her body vulnerable to various ailments. In the autumn-winter period, the epidemiological situation usually worsens and many people get sick with the flu. Young mothers are also susceptible to this disease, but treatment of influenza during breastfeeding has its own characteristics. This is due to the fact that many medications, when released into milk, can affect the baby.

What is the flu?

Influenza is commonly called acute infectious disease, affecting the respiratory tract and caused by the influenza virus. The disease is part of a group of acute viral infections(ARVI). To date, more than 2000 variants of the influenza virus are known (they differ in their antigenic spectrum).

The disease can spread as an epidemic and pandemic. Every year, from different varieties of the influenza virus, from 250 to 500 thousand people in the world die, sometimes their number can reach a million (most often these are people over 65 years of age).

Causes and routes of transmission of the disease

Anyone can get the flu; the cause of the disease, as already mentioned, is the influenza virus. The source of infection is an already sick person, from whom the virus is transmitted by sneezing and coughing. The patient is contagious a day before the first symptoms appear (which is why it is impossible to introduce any quarantine measures) and until the 5-7th day of illness.

How does the flu progress?

In most cases, the disease begins suddenly. The pathogens of viruses A and B are characterized by aggressiveness and a very high reproduction rate, which is why, just a few hours after infection, a person experiences deep damage to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, which allows bacteria to easily penetrate into it.

The patient usually has a sharp rise in temperature, he complains of headache and joint pain, fatigue. Cough, runny nose, and nasal congestion may occur. Flu is no different specific symptoms and it can be confused with other diseases. That is why a doctor should select treatment.

Possible consequences

People usually get sick with the flu for a few days, after which they recover. However, sometimes the disease is severe and leads to the death of the patient.

The disease causes an exacerbation of all existing chronic diseases; in addition, the flu can cause a variety of complications both from the respiratory tract and ENT organs, as well as from the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Symptoms of the disease

If your mother gets the flu, she may experience the following symptoms:

high temperature;
cough;
pain and sore throat;
runny nose;
weakness;
aching bones;
chills;
signs of intoxication.

Treatment

Flu - dangerous disease that needs to be fought. Treatment of influenza during lactation should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, since many medications can have negative impact for a baby.

Therapy for this disease is aimed at achieving the following goals:

reduction of general intoxication;
increasing the protective properties of the body.

The tactics to combat the disease are as follows:

Maintaining bed rest. A nursing mother uses all her body's strength to create milk, so if she is ill, she needs to be provided with rest.
Taking medications. Many medications cannot be taken while breastfeeding. The doctor usually prescribes antivirals containing interferon, since they have a more gentle effect on the body. It is impossible to cure the flu with the help of antibiotics, since they destroy not the virus, but useful antibodies, which leads to a worsening of the situation. The doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if the cause of the illness is pathogenic bacteria. Then the medicine must be taken together with probiotics, since otherwise the intestinal microflora may be disrupted and dysfunction may occur. digestive tract. You cannot treat influenza during lactation by taking aspirin, because this drug has many side effects.
Rinse your nose and throat. These treatments are safe and effective. They make it possible to cleanse the mucous membranes of the virus and reduce pain. To gargle, use solutions of salt or soda, a decoction of St. John's wort or chamomile. It is indicated to use for rinsing the nose saline solution(it is sold at the pharmacy). By pouring it into an empty nasal drop bottle, you can irrigate the nasal mucosa.
A certain diet. To fight the flu, mommy needs strength, so she needs to eat right. The daily diet should include vegetables, fermented milk products and cereals, as well as lean turkey and chicken meat.
Drink plenty of fluids. It is necessary to remove toxins from the body and to ensure a sufficient supply of milk. If a woman has a high temperature, she should opt for mineral water, sweet tea, compote. It is not recommended to quench your thirst with very hot, cold or sour drinks. You should drink various herbal teas and fruit drinks that contain raspberries or viburnum with caution, as they can cause allergies in your baby. The child should be examined daily so as not to miss the appearance of a rash.

Medicines for gw

As already mentioned, not all medications can be used to treat influenza while breastfeeding. Most often, doctors prescribe the following drugs:

"Ibuprofen." This medicine allowed to be used during breastfeeding. It is prescribed to combat temperatures exceeding 38 degrees. Ibuprofen is used to treat children and does not pose a danger to the baby.
Antiviral agents that contain interferon (“Anaferon”, “Laferon” and others). These flu medications are used in therapy severe forms illness. It is possible to cure influenza during breastfeeding with the help of such medications only in the first three days from the onset of the disease, then their effectiveness drops sharply. A nursing mother should drink them carefully, constantly monitoring the baby’s condition.
"Ascorutin". During lactation, influenza can be treated with this remedy. Its action is aimed at reducing the permeability and fragility of capillary walls. The result of this is strengthening the walls of blood vessels, reducing their inflammation and swelling. "Ascorutin" is distinguished by antioxidant and radioprotective properties. Its intake allows you to activate redox processes, accelerates tissue regeneration and the synthesis of connective tissue elements, promotes the formation of steroid hormones, and normalizes carbohydrate metabolism. However, a nursing mother should first read the instructions for use and strictly adhere to the prescribed dosage and treatment time.
"Aflubin." This homeopathic medicine, which includes medicinal herbs. The action of "Aflubin" is aimed at reducing inflammation, normalizing temperature, removing toxins from the body and eliminating pain. The purpose of the drug is to stimulate the production of antibodies to bacterial and viral diseases. The drug is prescribed in the first days of the disease.

Many women are interested in whether it is possible to take Antigrippin while breastfeeding. Treatment with this drug is carried out only as prescribed by a doctor. When using the drug, it is recommended to temporarily stop feeding, as the medicine may adversely affect the baby.

When deciding how to treat the flu, a young mother should think not only about herself, but also about the baby. This is why self-medication in in this case unacceptable - taking any medication must be agreed with a doctor. Having learned from the doctor how to treat the flu, a young mother should be sure to read the instructions for all the proposed medications.

Is it possible to breastfeed a child with the flu?

Some doctors believe that influenza during lactation is a reason to temporarily stop breastfeeding, since the risk of infection of the baby from the mother is high. Others believe that there is no need to interrupt breastfeeding during the flu, since by the time the mother showed the first signs of illness, the child had already received a certain dose of the virus.

If mommy gets the flu, she should not interrupt breastfeeding. Breastfeeding during flu, on the contrary, helps protect the child from the disease. This is due to the fact that human milk contains immunological defense factors. Due to the close contact between mother and baby, pathogenic microbes and microorganisms of the child enter the mother’s body, therefore the immunoglobulins in milk are specific to the baby’s pathogens. The mother's body produces specific immunoglobulins that pass to the baby through milk. As already mentioned, the flu has incubation period. At this time, the woman is already a source of infection, but with breast milk the newborn receives not only the virus, but also the antibodies needed to fight it.

Therefore, there is no need to use the following precautions:

Wear gauze bandages. This is pointless since the infection has already occurred.
Isolate the mother and refuse feeding for a while. According to the observations of doctors, if a baby did not eat breast milk when his mother was ill, his protective functions the body, which subsequently led to a deterioration in resistance to fighting infections. In addition, weaning at such a time had a bad effect on the psycho-emotional state of the baby.
Boil breast milk. Boiling destroys the components necessary to protect the baby, as well as most vitamins and microelements, which negatively affects the nutritional properties of milk.

Doctors believe that breastfeeding should be continued, even if the mother has a severe form of the disease (in this case, it is possible to feed the baby expressed, but not boiled, milk). Sometimes the flu affects the amount of milk, but this should not be a reason to refuse breastfeeding. After the mother recovers, lactation will be restored to its previous volume.

The following actions are prohibited for a nursing mother:

You cannot take medications that are prohibited during breastfeeding, as well as those drugs whose instructions for use do not indicate their compatibility with lactation.
Exceed the prescribed dosage, as increasing the concentration of the medicine can be dangerous for the baby.