I was very pleased to read this press release from La Leche League Great Britain this morning as I have been worried about my little ones getting swine flu, as have lots of you I am sure.

‘With the publicity surrounding the Swine Flu Outbreak, La Leche League GB offers information which may answer some of the questions which will arise regarding protection of babies from infection.

Guidance from medical experts states that pregnant women should be encouraged to initiate breastfeeding early after birth and feed frequently.  Breastfeeding provides a safe, reliable food source, full of disease-fighting cells and antibodies that help protect

infants from germs and illnesses.

Mothers exposed to influenza produce specific protection for infants which is transmitted through breastmilk. Infant formula does not provide these specific

infection fighting properties and formula fed babies are particularly vulnerable

to respiratory illness.

Women can continue to breastfeed while receiving antiviral medications and if a woman is ill she should continue to breastfeed and increase frequency.  The risk of H1N1 (swine) flu transmission through breastmilk is unknown but reports of seasonal flu being transmitted are rare.  By the time a mother begins showing symptoms

of the flu her infant has already been exposed. Her milk can provide additional

protection for the infant from complications of the flu, such as severe respiratory symptoms, diarrhoea, other gastrointestinal infections and dehydration, along with measures such as hand washing.

If the mother or infant is too ill to breastfeed directly at the breast a mother can pump and feed her breastmilk to her baby.’