Is viral infection transmitted through breast milk?

Treatment of ARVI during lactation is a process that should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. It involves both the use of medications approved for nursing and folk remedies. There is no need to interrupt breastfeeding.

Absolutely all people are susceptible to acute respiratory viral infections at any time of the year. The main rule for a nursing mother is not to panic, but to take timely measures so that she can recover faster and not infect the baby.

It is promptly necessary to begin treatment for ARVI during breastfeeding if the first symptoms of the disease appear:

temperature rise to more than 37 °C;
nasal congestion, runny nose;
cough and sneezing;
sore or sore throat;
muscle aches;
feeling of weakness and fatigue, lethargy.

Proper treatment using medications approved for nursing mothers will help overcome the disease within a week.

Is it possible to continue breastfeeding if a woman has a cold? In the past, most doctors advised isolating the sick mother from the baby during the acute course of the disease and avoiding breastfeeding during this time. Today, doctors have come to a consensus: breastfeeding during ARVI in the mother is not only allowed, but also necessary for the baby.

The opinion of pediatricians is based on two arguments:

Weaning from the mother's breast during illness helps to reduce the child's immunity, so breast milk will bring much more benefits than the potential harm of a cold.
Before the first signs of the disease appeared, the virus had already been in the mother’s body for some time. By the time they appear, the pathogens, along with antibodies, have already entered the child’s body through breast milk. In this case, if the baby gets sick, mother’s milk will contribute to a speedy recovery and a milder course of the disease. And if you don’t get sick, it will only strengthen your immune system.

It is necessary to treat a cold immediately after the first symptoms appear. To achieve this, pharmaceutical companies offer many effective medications that are compatible with breastfeeding and have a minimum of side effects and components harmful to the baby's health. You shouldn’t discount traditional methods either.

The main rule of treatment during lactation is to consult a doctor. Only a doctor can prescribe the treatment that is most effective for a nursing woman and safe for the baby.

What medications are most often prescribed by doctors, and what can a nursing mother take for ARVI without fear of harming the baby:

antiviral drugs that are approved for pregnant and lactating women are Grippferon, Aflubin and Oscillococcinum. If necessary, they are used in the treatment of ARVI in children under three years of age;
remedies for the treatment of runny nose. It is permissible to use salt water solutions of Aquamaris or Salin. Some pediatricians prescribe drops with antimicrobial effects Pinosol. When breastfeeding, Xymelin or Otrivin are often prescribed;
cough medicines - Lazolvan and Ambroxol. It is allowed to drink syrups based on medicinal herbs;
The safest antipyretic medications for acute respiratory viral infections while breastfeeding are those that contain paracetamol. Children's antipyretic syrups Panadol or Nurofen are also used;
for sore throat, topical drugs with an antimicrobial effect are prescribed: Miramistin, Ingalipt and Iodinol;
Antibiotics are prescribed in extreme cases. There are no absolutely safe antibiotics, so they should be used only under the supervision of doctors and according to their recommendations.

Along with medications, traditional medicine is often used, but only as an aid to traditional treatment. Some tips on how to treat a nursing mother with ARVI using folk remedies:

tea with lemon and honey, sea buckthorn or raspberries;
aromatherapy using essential oils: eucalyptus, rosemary, fir;
inhalations using boiled potatoes, chamomile or calendula infusions;
gargling with water, baking soda and salt;
warming the chest with boiled potatoes;
drinking radish juice diluted with honey.

There are many alternative medicines, but you should always consult a doctor first, since many of them cause allergic reactions in the child.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, treatment of ARVI in a nursing mother should begin at the first signs of infection. The pediatrician advises dressing warmly, drinking plenty of warm liquids, ensuring cool, moist air enters the room, and drip saline solutions into the nose more often. It is clear: you should not stop breastfeeding, but it is necessary to take precautions when interacting with your baby.

How to protect your baby from illness and continue lactation:

Use a four-layer gauze dressing, which must be changed every 2-3 hours.
Wash your hands regularly and treat them with antiseptics.
Ventilate the room frequently for 15 minutes and do wet cleaning.
If possible, communicate less with the baby (besides feeding time), because ARVI is transmitted not through breast milk, but by airborne droplets.

Remember: you should not self-medicate - any type of acute respiratory disease can lead to complications, and the baby needs a healthy mother.

One of the pressing questions from the moment the child is born is the following: if the mother gets sick while breastfeeding, will the baby get sick? Difficulties arise when the food supply is based on guards. You need to take into account all the nuances in advance in order to think through a feeding plan for a newborn or treatment.

The painful condition does not depend on the time of year

If mom is sick

You can suddenly get sick at any time of the year. Nursing mothers who have established lactation are susceptible to colds. The reason is that the respiratory system works with increased loads, which go towards milk production. As a result, the immune system weakens and infections enter the body faster.

The main question in the event of a negative development of events is whether a newborn child can become infected with ARVI from his mother while breastfeeding. Modern research and WHO recommendations indicate the need to preserve this method of feeding infants.

Important! In 90% of cases, you will not have to limit contact with your child. There is no need to boil milk or other disinfection methods.

There are a number of situations in which it will be necessary to temporarily or permanently abandon the guard and switch to formula nutrition. The need for weaning is determined by the type or severity of the disease.

Important! You should stop breastfeeding completely (switch to formula) only after consulting a pediatrician.

If the mother of a newborn baby is sick, she also needs to undergo examination. Diseases incompatible with gw:

infectious in an acute form (toxic substances from microorganisms can get into the milk);
purulent mastitis;
recovery period after surgery (effects of anesthesia, taking medications, antibiotics).

It is possible to partially retain breast milk nutrition. If your doctor allows, you should pump frequently. It is recommended to repeat the procedure every 3-4 hours to prevent stagnation of fluid in the chest. In some cases, this is not done to ensure that the newborn is fed, but to eliminate side effects or reduce future milk production. After the mother has fully recovered, the baby in 90% of cases can return to the usual way of eating.

If the cause of the development of the disease was not an infection or a dangerous viral type of pathogen, then you can continue breastfeeding during the period when the mother is feeling unwell. When a cold strikes during breastfeeding, how not to infect the baby is the first question that arises. A common acute respiratory infection will not cause harm, so to prevent the child from becoming infected, it is enough to use a medical mask.

90% of viruses and bacteria are transmitted by airborne droplets or after contact. In order to minimize the likelihood that a newborn baby will get sick (infected), it is recommended, in addition to using a gauze mask, to ventilate the room.

Wet cleaning and the use of disposable items for hygiene procedures also help keep the baby healthy and continue to feed him milk. It is also necessary to wash your hands thoroughly before interacting with the toddler. Lactation can be continued if the treatment program does not use antibiotics or other drugs that are unsafe for the baby.

Important! It is recommended to agree with your pediatrician on the optimal feeding schedule, as the schedule may shift slightly.

In what cases should lactation be stopped?

Is it possible to feed a child with the flu if the mother’s health is very bad? There are cases in which you should stop breastfeeding:

at a temperature of more than 40 degrees;
if a complication occurs;
when the body is dehydrated;
if the disease does not subside within a week.

We also recommend: Is it possible to get infected with ARVI?

Be sure to consult your doctor . Some forms of influenza require hospital treatment. In such a situation, feeding a child is quite dangerous, since lactation creates additional stress on the female body.

List of treatment rules

In order to reduce infection to zero, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules:

organize the treatment process in such a way that a certain amount of time passes between taking the medication and direct contact with the baby (in most cases, the maximum concentration of the drug in the blood is recorded 1.5-2 hours after administration);
Feeding intervals should be increased to 4-5 hours (formula or age-appropriate complementary foods are used for supplementary feeding);
during the period when the main phase of treatment takes place, the mother should carefully monitor the child’s condition;
Natural feeding should be stopped if the baby reacts negatively: rash, itching or swelling appears.

If treatment involves taking antibiotics, then for this period it will be necessary to switch the child to formula. You need to continue expressing milk. To improve the microflora, the pediatrician may prescribe a course of probiotics for the child.

If a woman manages to catch a cold 3-6 months after the start of feeding (mature stage of lactation), there is no need to abruptly stop the feeding process. After consulting with your doctor, you will be able to choose the optimal schedule. The reason is that the mother may experience stress, as a result of which the milk will disappear partially or completely.

Important! A woman should not independently refuse medications prescribed for treatment, as this action can lead to various complications.

Ventilation reduces the number of bacteria in the air

After the consultation, it will be clear whether the mother gets sick while breastfeeding or whether the baby will get sick. In most cases, a common cold or runny nose does not harm the health of the newborn. There are drugs that are approved for use without restrictions during breastfeeding, but their inclusion in the recovery program must be carried out by a doctor. If a cold occurs while breastfeeding, a specialist decides how to recover and treat it.

How to treat a throat during lactation

The safest methods during this period are:

rinsing;
taking decoctions or rinsing with them;
milk with honey (if the child does not react);
some sprays.

To gargle, a nursing mother is recommended to dilute a little sea salt and soda in water.

You can buy Furacilin tablets at the pharmacy, dilute 2 tablets in warm water and gargle as often as possible. Furacilin is also sold in liquid form, but its shelf life is limited.

"Furasol" is available in powder form. A nursing mother needs to dilute a sachet of the product in one glass of warm water at a time. An effective remedy for treating a mother's throat while breastfeeding is Chlorophyllipt. To rinse, dilute 1 tsp. liquid in a glass of warm water. You should rinse 4 times a day for 5 minutes.

Chlorhexidine is also used to gargle during breastfeeding. The 0.05% solution is ready for use and does not need to be diluted.

Rinsing with decoctions of medicinal herbs helps a lot. To do this, pour 2 tablespoons of herbal mixture (chamomile, sage, calendula) with boiling water. Let it brew for 15 minutes. For one rinse, it is enough for a nursing mother to take one glass of herbal decoction.

Another recipe for preparing a decoction for gargling when a mother has a sore throat while breastfeeding is this: chamomile, St. John's wort, mint, and marshmallow root are mixed well in equal proportions. Fill with half a liter of boiling water. You need to infuse the decoction for 9 hours in a thermos. After this, gargle 3 times a day until recovery.

You can also pour 1.5 tablespoons of boiling water. chamomile and leave for 30 minutes. Then strain the broth and gargle every hour. When it becomes easier, the interval can be increased. If you brew one St. John's wort, you need to brew it for about three hours. Pour 1 tablespoon of it into a glass of boiling water and cover with a lid. It is recommended to gargle with it during breastfeeding 4 times a day.

ethnoscience

Some folk remedies can help a nursing mother relieve a sore throat. For example, this is the well-known honey with milk. It is imperative to take into account a possible allergic reaction and be careful. If there is no allergy, then feel free to add 1 tbsp to a glass of warm milk. honey, stir and drink. This drink quickly eliminates germs and relieves colds.

For information on the most common allergens in the diet of a nursing mother, see the online course Nutrition for a nursing mother without harm to the baby{amp}gt;{amp}gt;{amp}gt;

If you still have an allergy to honey, but not to milk, then you can make another remedy. Add 4 tbsp to half a liter of milk. butter and stir. You should drink this remedy 1 glass 3 times a day after meals.

Effectively eliminates sore throat honey with garlic in the following proportions: 1 tsp. honey, 1 clove of garlic. The garlic must be squeezed out and mixed with honey. Folk remedies also include treatment with propolis. A nursing mother can chew a piece of the product throughout the day. It relieves inflammation, kills viruses and germs, but can also cause allergies.

Breastfeeding mothers are allowed to use some throat sprays, as they do not penetrate the bloodstream. "Miramistin" is on the recommended list. It quickly relieves a sore throat.

Antimicrobial sprays that can be used to treat the throat during breastfeeding and which relieve inflammation also include: “Lugol”, “Inhalipt”, “Cameton”, “Hexoral”. In addition, Tantum Verde also soothes the throat.

Lollipops and tablets

Tablets and lozenges that can be sucked when a mother has a sore throat while breastfeeding include:

Isla Moos lozenges;
"Lizobakt";
"Faringosept";
"Stop-Angin";
"Strepsils";
"Septefril";
"Septolete";
"Sebidin."

When you have a sore throat, take Isla Moos lozenges. They contain Icelandic moss extract, which strengthens the immune system, destroys germs, and reduces inflammation.

Buy "Lizobakt" as an antiseptic. The lysozyme included in its composition will kill microbes, and pyridoxine will protect the oral mucosa. It is contraindicated to use it if you have an allergic reaction or lactose intolerance.

Faringosept will relieve irritation and sore throat and eliminate pain when swallowing.

"Strepsils" relieves inflammation and kills microbes, fungus and makes the mucous membrane softer. It is not advisable to take this drug while breastfeeding, but under special circumstances it is still allowed. In this case, its dosage should be strictly observed.

"Septefril" kills germs, fungi and viruses. “Septolete” and “Stop-angin” fight inflammation and fungi. "Sebidin" relieves inflammation, kills bacteria, and increases a nursing mother's body's resistance to infections.

At an early stage of the disease, you can get by with treatment with drugs that are not antibiotics. But if a nursing mother gets a sore throat, then you can’t do without them. Modern medicine has already invented antibiotics that can be used to treat a nursing mother’s throat. These include macrolides, penicillins and cephalosporins:

sumamed;
rovamycin;
flemoxin;
amoxiclav;
cephalexin;
ceftriaxone.

Tetracyclines and fluoroquinols can disrupt hematopoiesis in infants, so taking them is strictly contraindicated.

You can check all drugs for compatibility with breastfeeding on the website //www.e-lactancia.org/

Lollipops and tablets

The list of medicines prohibited for breastfeeding women is long. In the case when a mother has a cold, it is much easier to know what a nursing mother can drink when she has a cold.

Let's consider how to treat a cold for a nursing mother, so as not to harm your baby.

Most antiviral medications are contraindicated for use by a nursing mother for colds. The list of approved drugs for pregnant and lactating women includes Aflubin, Grippferon, and Oscillococcinum.

These antiviral drugs have proven to be effective and absolutely safe medicines. They began to appear in pharmacies relatively recently, so you need to consult a doctor for advice.

Drugs with an antipyretic effect are also undesirable for a woman who continues to breastfeed her baby. But you still have to bring down the high temperature. Under the influence of elevated temperatures, complete loss of mother's milk can occur.

Before reducing a nursing mother's temperature with medication, you can try wiping with a weak vinegar solution. It is recommended to continue them until the temperature drops to 37.5 C˚. If the temperature has reached 39 C˚, and rubdowns have not been able to reduce it, take Paracetamol, you can also drink Panadol or Nurofen - children's syrups.

It is not allowed to treat a runny nose in a nursing woman using traditional medications. If a mother has a cold, then she can use Aquamaris or Salin to fight a runny nose. Vitaon and Pinasol drops, which have an antimicrobial effect, showed excellent results.

What medications can nursing mothers take to treat a cough when they have a cold? During breastfeeding, it is possible to cure a cough with the help of Gedelix, Lazolvan, Ambroxol, Breast Elixir or Bronchicum. You can treat with herbal syrups or use anise drops.

ARVI during breastfeeding

You need to know in advance what to do if a nursing mother falls ill not with a common cold, but with an acute respiratory viral infection. In this situation, the body contains pathogens that can penetrate into the milk. Contact will be contagious for the child when the mother does not follow the rules:

be sure to use a medical mask;
mother of the hand;
carry out wet cleaning and ventilation daily.

If the temperature rises, it is recommended to pump; most of the time, relatives (father, grandmother) should take care of the baby.

Attention! If antibiotics are not taken, breastfeeding can continue.

It is necessary to wash your hands when you have a cold

In the treatment of ARVI in nursing women, the following drugs are used: Viferon, Grippferon. The course of treatment, dosage and duration are determined based on the results of a medical examination.

The answer to the question whether it is possible to infect a child with a cold directly through breast milk is negative in 90% of cases. The child will not become infected from the mother through contact if she carries out the treatment process correctly and follows the doctor’s instructions. A sick woman is advised to remain in bed to avoid additional or repeated colds or complications. To prevent breast pain when breastfeeding is stopped completely or partially, regular pumping is carried out.

How to avoid infecting your baby with a sore throat

· Be sure to feed your baby breast milk, as it contains immunoglobulins that help protect against diseases.

·Be sure to wash your hands with soap before feeding.

· During feeding, use a four-layer gauze bandage. After each use it must be replaced with a clean one.

· Ventilate the room frequently, regardless of the weather and time of year. While the child is being ventilated, take him to another room.

· Do regular wet cleaning of the premises.

· To reduce the possible risk of infection for your baby, make garlic beads. Peel the garlic, divide into cloves and thread on a thread. Place the beads near the baby's crib. Or you can place an onion cut into pieces in the room. Onions and garlic are natural phytoncides that help prevent the spread of viruses.

· To stimulate the immune system, the pediatrician may recommend dripping Gipferon or Interferon into the nose.

Video

Coronavirus is the most discussed topic of the beginning of 2020. In February, the pathogen was named COVID-19. Breastfeeding mothers all over the world are in panic. What if I catch the virus and infect my child? Is it possible to breastfeed during coronavirus? What if infection is not proven, but there was contact with a carrier? What is worse - exposing the child to the risk of contact with infection or quitting breastfeeding and leaving him without immune protection? Doctors don't have a clear opinion yet. So far there are no recommendations from the Russian Ministry of Health. But the World Health Organization (WHO) gave its recommendations on breastfeeding for COVID-19.

Routes of transmission

The infection is mainly transmitted:

by airborne droplets;
contact transmission path. For example, when you sneeze first, cover your mouth with your palm, and then without noticing you touch various objects, leaving germs on them. Thus, transmission of infection occurs.

Often infection occurs during a visit to relatives who want to be the first to congratulate them on the birth of a baby. Or older children attending preschool and school institutions.

What it is

Coronavirus is a viral infection. It spreads across the planet with lightning speed and affects almost all corners of the globe. In some regions there are more infected people, in others there are fewer. However, COVID-19's speed of spread and serious complications quickly caused panic among people.

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization at a meeting of the Emergency Committee recognized the current situation as extremely dangerous and assigned it international significance.

On March 11, 2020, it was announced that the outbreak was becoming a pandemic (the spread of the disease on a global scale). And Europe became the center of the pandemic.

Coronavirus is not the bubonic plague. In many ways, the severity of the current situation is exaggerated due to the scale and speed of spread, as well as insufficient awareness of the pathogen.

COVID-19 is a virus of the Coronaviridae family. Until December 2019, 39 strains of the virus were known. COVID-19 has become the fortieth. The virus contains RNA, one of three macromolecules that are present in almost all living organisms. The infectious agent received its name because of its special structure. If you look at the virus under magnification under a microscope, you will see spiny processes on it.

Visually they look like a crown. The peculiarity of the virus is that it successfully imitates molecules to which cellular receptors respond. Upon penetration into the body of a person or animal, it causes catarrhal manifestations, like most viral infections. Complications include viral pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory failure, and may culminate in death.

Medicines to relieve sore throat

To reduce pain in the throat, the use of “Miromestin”, “Inhalipt” and “Iodinol” will help. On various forums for caring for babies, it is recommended to take sucking tablets for sore throats, which are widely available on the shelves of modern pharmacies.

When prescribing antibiotics to women who continue to breastfeed their children, doctors are of the opinion that if antibiotics do not harm the child, they do not pose a danger to his mother.

If a nursing mother takes antibiotics when treating flu and colds, then it is necessary to remember that these should not be sulfate-containing drugs, since they are poorly absorbed by infants. Antibiotics for women who are breastfeeding can be used while the baby is sleeping.

If a nursing mother has a sore throat, can she breastfeed her baby?

Answers:

Evgeniya

Can

Epilepsy~

Don’t worry, feed formula for now

Lenochka

Of course you can!!

Shroedinger `s cat

It’s possible and necessary, just try not to infect the child, don’t try to kiss, etc., and in general it’s better for the mother to wear a mask. milk is not contagious

Elena R

you can feed it, it just matters what you treat this throat with

chy0rtic

Can! He receives all the bacteria both with milk and through airborne droplets. But with milk he also receives antibodies to fight the virus! So it's even necessary!!!

Ksenia Novitskaya

It depends on the age of the child!

Rich girl

Can

Lyudmila

Of course you can

Oksana R

Of course it is possible, even necessary. Just wear the mask yourself, especially when feeding. It is necessary because milk protects the child, despite the fact that its owner has a sore throat. If you switch your child to formula now, this is stress for the body, and any stress is a decrease in immunity, draw your own conclusions. I gave birth and nursed with a terrible runny nose - the little one didn’t have a hint of a cold. The only thing is that you need to treat yourself very carefully.