H1N1 Pandemic & Breastfeeding

August 21, 2009 | By azrina In New Baby |

: Image by Rescue Dog via Flickr

We are at an age where there are literally no boundaries and viruses travel far and wide.

And we are currently in the midst of a storm of Influenze A (H1N1). Much has been said about the whys and the hows and the howtos. I cringed reading about the escalating death tolls, here in Malaysia and we’re not talking some occasional numbers here, we’re talking about 6 to 3 deaths per day.

And everytime it’s always someone from the high risk groups and babies and pregnant mothers come on top.

It’s best to take extra precaution at the moment if you are breastfeeding or have a small baby. I’m not a big fan of wearing masks, especially when this particular strain of virus is typically spread from droplets of bodily fluid of an infected person. Not entirely airborne. So, I prefer to sanitise my hands more and avoid touching my face, eyes or mouth that much.

Wear a mask if you’re sick, but more importantly practise excessive hygiene in this trying times.

A friend came to me crying about his husband demanding that she stops breastfeeding their 2.5yr old baby girl. Both ends of breastfeeding aren’t ready but the hubby is just not comfortable with the mother breastfeeding a toddler.

I hugged her and I comforted her. In Islam, a wife must obey her husband. But in this case, I advised her to seek some leeway, maybe give her about 3 months to gradually wean her off.

After all, the toddler has never had formula before and breastmilk has been her primary nutrition. And another crucial factor, the time. This is when whatever precaution you can take, to boost your immune system, you have to do. What is best for your body to be able to fend off the infection.

And taking the toddler off breastmilk is not the wisest decision. The toddler will suffer immesureable stress of being weaned abruptly, and worse, her immune system sill drop to a low because the nutristiona nd the enzymes that kept her strong all this while is suddenly been cut short.

And I thought that is the primary reason why she should let her gradually wean her off for at least 3 months.

I feel rather sad for her, but more proud that she stood her ground and she recognised what breastfeeding was to her and the baby. It’s too bad that the father had to come in between, but we all have challenges.