• Careers
  • Education
  • Research
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Getty Images 840622790

Tips For Keeping Your Baby Flu-Free

Sep 17, 2020 |
By Sandra A. Kemmerly, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Did you know that breast feeding can protect and reduce the spread of the flu in infants?

According to lactation consultants, along with the Centers for Disease Control, breast feeding has several benefits to protecting infants from contracting the flu if the pregnant or nursing mother takes the appropriate precautions.

Pregnant or nursing women should make an extra effort to get the flu vaccine.

“Woman who are pregnant are more vulnerable to the seasonal flu, so protective measures such as receiving the correct vaccines, along with preventative care such as hand washing and avoiding close contact with infected individuals, will help protect from the flu,” says Cindy Boudreaux, RN and Ochsner Lactation Consultant.

Even if you contract the seasonal flu, you should continue breast feeding. According to the CDC, a mother’s body makes antibodies to fight diseases in which they come into contact; therefore, even if you catch the seasonal flu your breast milk is “custom made” to fight the diseases in which your infant is exposed.

“Breast milk may not prevent infants from getting the flu, but the anti-infective cells in breast milk can help infants contract a less severe case of the seasonal flu.” says Boudreaux. “However, if you develop symptoms of the flu such as fever, cough or sore throat, you should ask a family member who is not sick to feed your baby your expressed milk.”

Breast milk is the best hydration for an infant who has contracted the flu.

“Breast milk is 90 percent water and can protect against dehydration,” says Boudreaux. “And, unlike formula, the nutrients are very easily and completely digested and less irritating to a sick stomach. The CDC affirms that breast milk is better than anything else, even water and juice, because of its protective properties. Even if a mom has to feed through a bottle, syringe or eye-dropper, because baby is too sick to breast feed, it’s worth the extra effort.”

Babies can benefit more from breast milk when they’re sick because that is when they need more fluids. Ochsner lactation consultants recommend that moms give their infants more opportunities to breast feed when they’re sick, in an attempt to reduce dehydration.

There are plenty more benefits to breastfeeding your baby. Take the time to learn more about why breast milk is the best milk.

Flu Season Is Here. Visit any Ochsner Urgent Care or schedule a virtual visit if you have the flu. Learn more..

Editor's note: This article was originally published on June 22, 2018, but has been updated.

Tags
baby
flu
pregnancy

You may also be interested in:

Pregnant woman on computer virtual classes mom
Prevention & Wellness
Sep 17, 2020

Is Getting the Flu Shot While Pregnant Safe?

There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to getting the flu shot while pregnant. Many pregnant women are concerned about the safety of the vaccine for their developing baby.
Symptoms of flu
Health Trends
Oct 28, 2020

Flu Symptoms: What Are They?

The flu is characterized by coughing, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients, but not all, will also suffer from fever or chills.
Woman laptop Getty Images 1124997372
Conditions & Treatment
Oct 28, 2020

Is it the Flu or Coronavirus?

Learn how symptoms differ between the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the flu.

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest

Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Hello Health Seminars
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Healthy Living Tips, Delivered Right To Your Inbox

* indicates required


Must Reads
Food and Fitness
Men’s Health
Parenting
Women’s Health

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:


Get Weekly Health Tips

Select the weekly newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your weekly newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox every week.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide