This nursing mother has just nursed her 4 year old through swine fever.

We were infected by a 2 year old, who contracted it and wasn't showing 
symptoms when he visited.  Myself and my husband came down with the 
rather common
set of symptoms that are associated with swine flu, which are taking a 
long time to shake off.  A heavy cold, more than a flu.  The mother of 
the 2 year old came down with it quite badly.  Her 5 month old baby, 
whom she nursed continuously, and took to bed with her, did not.  She's 
tandem feeding, and so both infected 2 year old, and 5 month old, were 
breastfeeding and bed sharing during the worst moments of mother and 2 
year old being very poorly.  5 month old as happy as larry, and not a 
sign of owt.

My 4 year old came down with classic and immediate swine flue, and all 
we did was treat the temperatures spikes, which were severe.  I took my 
nursling to bed too, and nursed and held him, and gave him the body 
contact I'd give for any illness.  He recovered quickly.  Mother of 5 
month old reported the swine flue was making her poorly, but it was not 
as bad as her last bout of mastitis, which made her much more poorly.  
She also recovered very quickly.

I'd say, from experience, the best place for the baby, is on the mother, 
as much as possible.  :-) 

Not clinical, I know, but you did ask!  If it's a choice between 
breastmilk and tamiflu... we chose breastmilk.  Our tamiflu was left on 
file at the doctor's.

(Incidentally, the bugger with swine flu, is not how ill it makes you 
feel.  It's the classic viral 'drop through a hole in the floor' 
feeling,which can turn you into mush in a moment, and last for a few 
hours.  But when you bounce back up, it's fine.  All of you out there 
heading for it, may need that little snippet of experience when it 
arrives.  That, and make sure there is loads of clean laundry to go 
round - it won't be clean for long.)

Morgan Gallagher


john nicholls wrote:
> Hi Everyone
>
>  
>
> The hospital where I work, has had its first positive case of swine flu in a
> mother. So the infection control department and paeds  has recommended that
> the mother  and baby  are placed together(thankfully ) but the baby must be
> placed in an incubator when not being breastfeed.  As it is the first case
> it is a steep learning  curve for all concerned.
>
>  
>
> My questions are
>
> If a mother contracts any virus when does she make antibodies? 
>
> I cant see that nursing the  baby in an incubator is the answer, surely
> breastfeeding gives the baby  some immunity/protection?
>
>  
>
> Has  anyone  on the list  experience  with nursing mothers who are positive
> for swine flu, what protocols are used? 
>   

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