Breastfeeding

How true is it in anyones experience that while breastfeeding, their newborn did not get sick even though mom was sick and siblings? We went the whole winter with hardly any illnesses and of course as soon as the new baby is born the whole house has coughs and colds. I am so worried the baby will get it! I am keeping everyone away and washing hands like a crazy person but I read a nursing mother makes antibodies while breastfeeding?

Re: Breastfeeding

It seems to be true! He did get one cold when he was around 6 months old but otherwise has not, even when my older son had bad colds & seemed to be slobbering everywhere I would have thought for sure the baby would get sick, and in fact the rest of us got sick but the baby didn't. Is it because of breastfeeding, who knows, but it didn't hurt!

Breastfeeding

My first never got so much as a runny nose while she was bfing. At 16 months right after she weaned she got her first virus.
My second was close to a year when she got her first cold. She's been sick a bunch since but for the first year she didn't catch anything dd1 or dh brought home.

Breastfeeding

Dh and I both had the stomach flu when Dd was about 5 mo. We were throwing up every 30-45 minutes. Dd never got it. Of all things, she actually never threw up once until she was 19 mo (although we weaned right before 14 mo)

Breastfeeding

Great to hear!! I really hope that is the case for us too!!!

Re: Breastfeeding

My house has been germ infested for months, my DS currently has bronchitis and one of my DD has a sinus infection, but thankfully my 6 week old hasn't gotten sick, and I'm EBF. So I'm hoping that this continues, I've been freaking out since my older kids just can't catch a break this winter.

Breastfeeding

My first didn't catch much and was combo fed. My 2nd was EBF and sick about 5 times her first year!

Breastfeeding

I got a stomach virus when DS was 3 months. I breastfed him the entire time and he never got sick. He really only got sick once I stop BF him at 12 months

Re: Breastfeeding

With DD1, I EBF for 13 months and she got her first cold at 4 months right when I went back to work. Then when she was 11 months DH and I got the stomach virus within hours of each other. Somehow she managed to not get it. Now with DD2 , who is 4 months and also EBF, she just got her first cold. My older DD must have given it to her, but she really only has a runny/slightly stuffy nose.

Breastfeeding

I've had 4 stomach bugs in the last year. DS has not gotten one. Knock on wood. He has however gotten a decent amount of colds. He had croup twice and one ear infection. He's 23 months.

Message edited 3/26/2016 12:29:59 PM.

Re: Breastfeeding

BM does help babies get sick less. Here's an article u might find interesting...Click me

If u do get sick though, make sure to drink enough fluids so the quantity of your milk doesn't get compromised.

Message edited 3/28/2016 8:44:39 AM.

Breastfeeding

I pumped for my first. She didn't get sick for about 7-8 months. I directly nursed (and supplemented) for my second and she was and is sick all the time.

Re: Breastfeeding

I just had the flu for a week. I breastfeed throughout, and ds didn't get sick.

Re: Breastfeeding

DS gets colds on and off, but it could be a lot worse. The first week he was home, everyone was sick on and off with a fever, including DH who had a 104 temp, body aches and chills. The baby didn't catch anything, even though I did. I just nursed him through all of it. I think whenever he does get sick, it appears to be milder than those around him so far.

Re: Breastfeeding

My ds has nursed for 2 1/2 years and he gets the occasional sickness (just got over the flu and strep). In my opinion, the antibodies they get definitely helps, but it's so important to take other precautions... Wipe down hands, surfaces... I feel like that's what's really going to make the biggest impact, though breastfeeding does help.

Re: Breastfeeding

When DD2 was 5 weeks old, the whole house got hit with the stomach bug from hell. It passed over her. BFing didn't create a shield around my girls - they still got colds/runny noses etc, but they didn't come down with more serious stuff until they were older.