Is the issue really the illness?  The baby was exposed anyway before mom
showed symptoms (making the mask, etc., rather pointless).  
Why can't the helper assist the mom with breastfeeding, rather than
separating mom and baby?  

Ingrid
LLLL, IBCLC
British Columbia
Canada

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Barbara Berges
Sent: September 10, 2009 12:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: H1N1 and breastfeeding

An infectious disease expert in my hospital's health care system spoke at
the OB department meeting today regarding care of the OB patient and H1N1
flu.  She said that if a mom with flu was well enough to change her gown,
wear a mask, and wash her hands, she could breastfeed her baby directly.  If
she is too sick to perform these self-care tasks, she should be separated
from her baby, but provide pumped milk for someone else to feed to the
baby.

Sounds like a pretty reasonable interpretation of the CDC guidelines to me.

Barb Berges BS, RN, IBCLC
near Cleveland, Ohio

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