Breastfeeding Recommended During Flu Outbreak

LAKE CHARLES, LA -- As the CDC continues to monitor the swine flu outbreak, health officials are zeroing in on how to protect the most vulnerable population, infants.

Breastfeeding is being recommended as a "critical strategy" to prevent infection.

Doting first-time parents, Rob and Rikki Emanuel want to do whatever they can to keep their ten-week-old daughter, Eliza, healthy.

When faced with the decision over whether or not to breast feed Eliza, Rikki says looking into the benefits of breast milk made it an easy choice.

"Immunity for the baby, as far as them not being able to defend themselves from colds and everything and the fact that you pass that on to them," said Rikki Emanuel.

This immunity has health officials stepping up to say with the current swine flu outbreak, mothers that can breast feed their infants should.

"A mother's body makes immunities for the baby, so antibodies are actually formed in the mother's body by everything that she is exposed to - so she transfers those immunities to the baby," said lactation consultant Martha Benglis.

Registered nurse Benglis says not only is the breast milk full of disease-fighting cells and antibodies, but it also contributes to marked improvements for children as they grow older.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also urging parents to remember to protect their babies in the same way they protect themselves especially by keeping their hands, that oftentimes end up in their mouths, clean!

CDC guidance recommends that if a mother is ill, she should continue breastfeeding and increase feeding frequency.

Women can continue to breastfeed while receiving anti-viral medications.