Well, I guess I will have to go against the trend here because when I read
the CDC recommendations I thought they were fairly reasonable. Let me
explain.

Part of the problem is that we tend to call everything "the flu". I think
everyone tends to say they have "the flu" when they have a  viral respiratory
infection  (and sometimes even GI bugs). There are LOTS of different viruses
that cause respiratory infections, but the CDC is specifically talking
about an infection with the Influenza virus (which could be life threatening
in a small baby). 

The Influenza virus spreads in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and
sneezing. It usually spreads from person to person, though occasionally a
person may become infected by touching something with virus on it and then
touching their mouth or nose.

The CDC does not advocate stopping breastfeeding. What they do suggest is
that if you truely have the influenza virus then you should take precautions
to avoid exposing your baby to the virus in your respiratory droplets while
you breastfeed.

Only once in  my life have I seen someone who actually had an influenza
infection. It was my father in December 1968 during the Hong Kong flu
pandemic and it was really, really horrible and scary -- not at all the kind
of illness we usually think about when we say "flu".

Now having said all of that, it is clear from reading these posts that the
CDC guidelines are being understood differently by breastfeeding advocates.
Perhaps it could be suggested that the CDC explain in more detail the
benefits of breastfeeding when the mother is ill due to either viral or
bacterial infection by passing on specific immunities to baby. In addition,
they may need to futher help people to understand the difference between a
true influenza infection and what everyone calls "the flu".

Warmly,

Laurie Shornick, Ph.D. LLLL
St. Louis, MO





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