My feeling on this is that this suggestion comes from an uninformed health
professional. People think that babies with severe Upper Resp Infections
usually need fluids to thin secretions. Pedialyte has no nutritional content
save a bit of electrolytes.  Breast milk, and the sheer act of
breastfeeding, sets into play the marvelous protective system whereby a baby
with a virus nurses, innoculates the breast with the virus particles, the
breast then, as a part of the mother's immune system, begins to produce
antibodies to the EXACT virus the baby is infected with, and the breastmilk
with these wonderful antibodies and cells is ingested by the baby who can
then benefit and get over that virus more quickly.

The breast as part of the immune system is a very important piece , and I do
believe it is overlooked by a great many people who should know better. The
general rule is nurse a baby MORE who is ill...to get that protection, and
to keep baby well hydrated. Watch for 6-8 wet diapers with clear light
colored urine in baby...and normal number of poops also....Pedialyte is
useless in this situation, in my opinion.  It is also not useful in a
situation where a baby has a vomiting virus ....breastmilk, with all its
live cells, will get in there, and kill off more of the offending bug....and
has caloric content to boot.


Kathleen
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Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC, LLL Leader
Co-Owner Lactnet, LLLOL, Corgi-L E-mail lists
LACTNET WWW site: http://www.mcs.com/~auerbach/lactation.html
Remember: Jesus was a  breastfeed ( on cue.) child.....!!
Happy Holidays and Warm Wishes to you from the Bruces!
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