Infants with flu

[ChillyWilleys]

With all this hoopla of the H1N1 flu going about, I've been worried, not about myself, but the kids. DD5 I'm not all that worried about because she is 5 and has a decent immune system. So I obviously worry about her but not panicked. I also now have an infant who is only 1month. So I worry about her. I know the flu is most dangerous in infants, and from what I've heard if they are younger than 6 months there isn't much you can do about it. So I was just wondering if any of you had an infant in the past who had the flu and how everything was? I like to learn from the experience of others.

 

[micheleq]

My DDs were never sick with the flu as infants, but if you are concerned about your baby, just follow universal precautions (like constant hand washing). Don't bring her to the mall or a place like a supermarket if you don't really need to.

All moms worry, but unless you are in contact or close quarters with someone who has the flu, there's no need to worry too much. Give your pediatrician a call and s/he or one of the nurses can give you the best advice.

 

[EthansMom]

My kids (especially DD) were often sick as babies. I'd recommend that you make sure you have a decent stock of medications that will help if your baby becomes ill. My list would include baby Tylenol, baby Motrin, Pedialyte, and baby decongestant. You'd only need to use these if recommended by the pediatrician, but *if* any kind of flu/illness is going around, store stocks might get depleted by hysterical people, so it's a good idea to have some in the house.

We had stomach flus and the Norwalk virus when my kids were ill. Best thing you can do is keep them comfy and help them keep fluids down.

Good Luck!

 

[geishagirl81]

We all had the flu at the beginning of March. My daughter was 4 months and was the least sick out of all of us. She didn't have as severe symptoms, although it took her a day or two longer than us to be back to 100%. The only thing I could do was give her Pedialyte.

 

[tartemis]

Are you breastfeeding? It may be too late to start if you haven't been, but if you are, I would encourage you to keep it up and I think it is the best thing you can do to protect your child from any viral illness. There is plenty of evidence that the mother's antibodies pass through the breast milk for the baby so that if you catch a cold, you already start to pass the antibodies to that cold to your child through nursing. I know some folks claim that the benefits of those antibodies are overblown, but I swear by it.

I nursed my daughter until she was 16 months and she had only 1 or 2 minor colds that whole time. After I stopped nursing her she has had several colds -- seemingly one after another. I'm convinced nursing is the difference.

I'm also due with our second in August and I must admit that I am actually more concerned about "swine flu" and other flus for my oldest daughter (who will then be 2) then I am about the baby because the baby will be nursing.

 

[geishagirl81]

tartemis,

I am NOT flaming you,nor am I trying to start a debate on breast vs. bottle. However, I bottle feed and I swear, my kids were always more healthy than my good friend's kids who were breast fed. I know the breastmilk antibodies help, that is why formula has probiotics now (Similac doesn't charge more for the probiotics like Nestle does) but I think it has a good deal to do with luck of the drawl and how many viruses your kids encounter.

 

[Juliet25]

tartemis,

I am NOT flaming you,nor am I trying to start a debate on breast vs. bottle. However, I bottle feed and I swear, my kids were always more healthy than my good friend's kids who were breast fed. I know the breastmilk antibodies help, that is why formula has probiotics now (Similac doesn't charge more for the probiotics like Nestle does) but I think it has a good deal to do with luck of the drawl and how many viruses your kids encounter.

Despite your anecdotal evidence to the contrary, breastfeeding does provide a baby with antibodies and is certainly recommended for most infants. The Center for Disease control specifically address this issue:

<<Does breastfeeding protect babies from this new flu virus?>>
There are many ways that breastfeeding and breast milk protect babies’ health. Since this is a new virus, we don’t know yet about protection specific against it. Mothers pass on protective antibodies to their baby during breastfeeding. Antibodies are a type of protein made by the immune system in the body. Antibodies help fight off infection.

Flu can be very serious in young babies. Babies who are not breastfed get sick from infections like the flu more often and more severely than babies who are breastfed.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/breastfeeding.htm

I think the PP was correct in recommending the continuance of breastfeeding (assumming the OP was BF to begin with).

 

[ChillyWilleys]

Thanks everyone. Yes, I am breastfeeding, and I am quite adimant about handwashing. But with a preschooler I just feel if she catches it then it will be passed on. I am a chronic worrier when it comes to my children. Its amazing how being such a powerful force of someone elses life can make you feel so helpless.

 

[geishagirl81]

Despite your anecdotal evidence to the contrary, breastfeeding does provide a baby with antibodies and is certainly recommended for most infants. The Center for Disease control specifically address this issue:

<<Does breastfeeding protect babies from this new flu virus?>>
There are many ways that breastfeeding and breast milk protect babies’ health. Since this is a new virus, we don’t know yet about protection specific against it. Mothers pass on protective antibodies to their baby during breastfeeding. Antibodies are a type of protein made by the immune system in the body. Antibodies help fight off infection.

Flu can be very serious in young babies. Babies who are not breastfed get sick from infections like the flu more often and more severely than babies who are breastfed.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/breastfeeding.htm

I think the PP was correct in recommending the continuance of breastfeeding (assumming the OP was BF to begin with).

Anecdotal evidence huh? I get so sick of ppl that are so quick to be snappy. I said that breastmilk has antibodies, if you really read my post. I am not saying that breastmilk isn't beneficial. However, as someone who couldn't truly breastfeed my son and then as someone who decided not even to try with my daughter, I get so sick of the assumption that bottle fed babies are always sick ect ect.

Did you know that pregnant women who get a flu vaccine in the third trimester are proven to provide their babies with immunity due to the shot for several months afterwards? Clearly, breastmilk is good. However this just proves that it is NOT the only way to produce healthy children.

 

[tartemis]

GeishaGirl -- No Worries. Everybody has their own reasons for nursing/not nursing and I didn't want to start a debate either.

It is just my personal opinion that nursing can help prevent or ease viral illnesses and if the OP had already chosen to nurse that she may get some comfort in knowing that her baby may have additional protection against the flu.

Since becoming a mom, I have actually become much less judgmental -- parenting is very challenging and I realize that as moms we are often juggling a million things and have to priortize and make compromises were we need be to keep our sanity and provide the best life we can for our children.

 

[bumbershoot]

OP, if baby gets sick, just nurse nurse and nurse. We're not a family that combats symptoms, we prefer to try to let illness take its course through (things tend to go faster like that), and I do not know what I would have done without the on-tap antibodies, LOL. You don't even need pedialyte, as you've got it right there on demand.