I have a bad stomach virus, should I still breast feed my 3m/o?

Question

Will she get the virus too?

Answer 1

You should definatley keep breastfeeding. Any colds of flus you get, the anitbodies your body creates goes into your breastmilk. Thus when your baby feeds, she gets a dose of the antibodies. Chances are even before your body succumbed to this stomach bug, she already got the antibodies from you.
The only way i would say no breastfeeding, is if you are retching in the toliet. Other than that, feed away!!

Answer 2

You should ABSOLUTELY KEEP BREASTFEEDING!!!!!!

Your baby depends on you to give her antibodies and other immune factors (in addition to the unmatchable nutrition) in your breastmilk. Especially since your baby is so young. She may not be making antibodies on her own yet.

B/c you all live in close proximity and naturally have close contact w/ your baby, she has probably already been exposed....just as a bottlefed baby would likely have been exposed.

By the way, most viruses are contagious before you show symptoms. So, exposure usually happens before you even know you're sick. It's just a normal fact of life.

Unlike formula, breastmilk is a living substance. It contains anitbodies specifically tailored to your baby's needs. If you're fighting something, your body is making protective subtances for your baby. Formual just can't do that. Your baby might still get sick, but the breastmilk will definitely help protect and maybe even prevent entirely the illness. Stopping would be the WORST thing you could do.

In addition, a great many medications are SAFE while breastfeeding. Only a FEW are truly contraindicated and most of those have an alternative if they are absolutely necessary. When in doubt, I'd check w/ Dr Thomas Hale's Medications and Mothers' Milk (he has a website too). He has gathered extensive research on this and has better advice than most docs. I don't take anything w/o consulting my copy of Hale's...and I don't "pump and dump" on the advice of a doc unless Hale's concurs...which has never happened.

I hope you feel better soon.

Answer 3

I had an experience like this, and the answer to your question is ABSOLUTELY you should breastfeed your baby, it will PROTECT her.

We had a very bad virus run the course of our household. My 2 yr old daughter had to go to the ER for dehydration, and I almost had to take my 10 yr old step-daughter for the same reason. My husband spent hours in the bathroom loudly retching his guts out in misery. I was also sick, with disgusting things coming out of both ends of me. Yet my son, who was exclusively breastfed at the time (3 months old, like your daughter) was THE ONLY ONE IN THE HOUSE WHO DID NOT GET SICK. That's right, while everyone was completely miserable, this tiny child just watched us and went on his way happily nursing while I vomitted. I firmly believe that breastfeeding is the ONLY thing that saved him. If he had gotten this virus, I believe he would have been hospitalized at his very young age. But when you become ill, your body makes the antibodies to fight the illness and then when you breastfeed your child, you pass those antibodies on to your child. Thank GOD for breastfeeding; I can't imagine what I would have done if I had been formula-feeding my baby! So feed that baby, and congratulations for providing the absolute best possible nourishment for your child !! I know it is difficult to care for them when you yourself are sick, but at three months of age at least she won't be climbing all over you and needing constant entertainment. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

Oh, and the LAST thing you need when you already have a virus is to get mastitis from not feeding your baby -- that would be pure misery!

Answer 4

Absolutely! Your body will make antibodies to the virus, and they will be passed to the baby through your milk. Plus, it takes time for the symptoms to develop. Your baby was likely already exposed to the virus the same time you were.

A stomach virus made its way through my home last week. First my 3 YO had it, the next day my 4 YO had it, then me, and finally my husband. My 7 month old is nursing and she is the ONLY one of us who didn't get sick.

Answer 5

YES, YES,YES!!!! Nurse that baby. She will NOT get sick from your breast milk, it's full of antibodies. The hard part is trying not to cough, sneeze, etc on her. I know you're intelligent, but I'll say it anyway...wash your hands well and often!!!! I was able to nurse both of mine a year each, even when sick. Do you have a lactation consultant? If not the pediatrician will tell you the same. Also check out the La Leche website. Cool thing...I had pink eye when one of my babies was still nursing...my doc told me to express some of my milk into something and use a dropper to put it in my eyes because the antibodies in the milk should do the trick. I didn't need to call back for a prescription...it worked!!!!

Answer 6

You should DEFINITELY keep breastfeeding!!! She is LESS likely to get the virus if you continue nursing. This is because when you are ill your body produces "antibodies" which are little germ fighters, sent out to kill the virus. These antibodies are in your breastmilk! So when you nurse, she gets the germ fighters in her system. Therefore, she can fight off the virus easier and quicker.

Answer 7

some babies take to it in basic terms positive, however the combination of the two does reason different babies to become very gassy, etc. I had a chum who had this situation together with her daughter and the physician instructed her to p.c.. one or the different. ~ in the experience that your daughter does not seem to have matters with it, a sprint breastmilk is extremely extra advantageous than none! with the help of how, I in basic terms have been given a Medela breast pump for toddler #2 b/c I hated to specific with the 1st and actually did no longer could. The Medelas are costly, yet staggering. whether you are not getting one, attempt to pump or hand show once you could throughout the time of the day to maintain your milk supply up once you're living house. solid success :)

Answer 8

Yes, yes, yes

1) Breastfeeding will PROTECT your baby by giving antibodies
2) What else are you going to give her? Formula? That will likely make her sick too.

http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/mom-illness.html
During any "ordinary" illness such as a cold, sore throat, flu, tummy bug, fever, mastitis, etc. you should continue to breastfeed. Just remind your doctor you are nursing so that if medications are needed he can prescribe something that is compatible with breastfeeding. Most medications are safe to take while breastfeeding, and for those that are not recommended there is almost always an alternative medication that is safe

And a list of safe medications to take, if needed:
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.html

Answer 9

If your on medication, that's what you should be worried about. The virus would have been in your body a while before you new about it, and you would have been feeding then. Have you been to the doctor? You have to be very careful taking medication when your breast feeding.

Answer 10

You can go ahead and keep breastfeeding your baby boy/girl. He/she has your antibodies already and are less likely to catch anything from you.

The only time you need to STOP breastfeeding is if you are taking medication to correct your symptoms, becasue some(well all) medicatoins travel through your milk to your baby, but some are safe(ask your doctor).

It may be Easier for you to stop for a few days but then again youll just get engorged unless you pump.