Breastfeeding with a cold - how does it affect feeding?

[MayMom]

Has anyone noticed a change in feeding their baby with a cold (Mummy has the cold, that is), can the cold be passed on? Is the quality and quantity of milk affected? Cheers [sniff..sniff].

[browneyesblue]

Should be fine :) Your cold won't be passed on through breastmilk either - if anything, you'll pass on your antibodies so that even if the baby catches it it will hopefully be a milder version.

The quality/quantity of milk isn't affected as far as I know, but some cold and flu remedies may have an affect. Boots do an own brand cold and flu powder that's suitable for breastfeeding, and paracetamol is okay too.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Fumblina]

I don't think it affects anything. And I heard tht if mummy gets a cold first the anitbodies in the milk help protect the baby from it.

You just get to feel rubbish while you're doing it. Hope you feel better soon.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Paracetamol fine, but some decongestants (I think) can have an affect on milk supply. Your baby will be fine, and will get protection from colds from your milk. If they do get the cold they can find it more difficult to feed when snuffly (DD used to sound like a little piglet).

Hope you feel better soon.

[MrsGubbins]

carry on!! eat more cake, drink more tea.

DD spent a morning once sneezing and suffering with a runny nose, by afternoon I was sneezing and blowing my nose every minute. By the next day I was streaming with cold and DD was absolutely dandy!!

I had the cold for a week and DD was as fit as a butchers dog! BM is superb!

Hope you feel better quickly.