What are the implications of my breastfed 10 day old baby coming into contact with someone with a cold?

Question

The person has a temp of 39 degrees and I am seriously worried about my baby developing it. Could breastfeeding help prevent it? What could happen if he gets it? Could it be serious for him?

Answer 1

IF your baby contracted the "bug" then there's not much you can do now.  Just keep an eye on him.  If he develops a fever he needs to be looked at immediately.  Any infant under 3 months of age should be looked at by a professional if they have a fever of 39 degree or more.

Answer 2

just continue to nurse your baby and Im sure he wont get it, breastfed babies have really good immunty from the antibodies in our milk, plus since the baby's only 10 days old, he still has the antibodies from being inside you.

Answer 3

Well, your baby might catch a cold. I know this sounds harsh, but...it's no big deal. Babies catch colds all the time. It stimulates their immune system.

Breastfeeding will help prevent it only if you have also been in contact with the bug and developed antibodies against it.

A cold and a temperature of 39 degrees isn't serious. I'd lay money your baby's temperature goes up that high every time he/she has a good yell.

I hope your baby is fine...but seriously, don't worry about them catching something this minor. It's going to happen - and it SHOULD happen. Babies who are obsessively protected from early stimulation of their immune system are far more likely to end up with allergies, because their immune system doesn't learn how to deal with threats in a safe, controlled manner.

Answer 4

When you are breastfeeding you are passing all of your immunities to your baby.  That doesn't mean that he won't get someone else's cold.  Just keep him away from the sick person.  If you get the cold, don't worry about him catching it from you.  If you are breastfeeding he will get your immunities and that is the best thing that you can do to prevent him getting sick.  In the case of other people, just make sure that hands are washed frequently and keep him away from anyone who is actively sick.

Answer 5

Babies under 3 months have a high possibility of developing Pneumonia and should be kept away from people as much as possible.

The reason is, they lay on their backs and sleep much of the time.

An active, older baby is held in an upright position more and is more active, therefore, coughing up anything that would rest in their lungs if they were lying prone all of the time.

We never let anyone near our babies until they were at least 3 months old and had no colds for at least 4 months that way.