The parents of a 2 month old infant often took him along with them on their freq

Question

The parents of a 2 month old infant often took him along with them on their frequent trips to the mall. One of the grandmothers suggested that they leave him home as it was flu season and the malls were full of coughing and sneezing people. The mother immediately responded that she was breast feeding the baby and with all the antibodies from her he was surely protected against any diseases in the mall. Later as she sat at the pediatrician's office, holding her sick baby, she expressed disbelief that he could have caught the flu. If you were the doctor what fallacies in this mother's beliefs could you explain toher?

Explanation / Answer

Being a Doctor after observing the situation, I understood that the mother is a bit less aware of taking care of the newborn, so I will make her understand the practicality of the care and immune system against disease.

Of course as long as baby is on breast feeding he gets enough antibodies but 2months old baby don't have the antibodies to fight off most colds and gastrointestinal infections. Until your baby has his first round of shots at 2 months, you should be extra cautious. It does not mean that 2months old baby can go into crowd like older baby since he is getting breast feed, flue might be transmitted by any of the ways like 1) by direct contact with infected individuals 2) by contact with contaminated objects (called fomites, such as toys, doorknobs) and 3) by inhalation of virus-laden aerosols.

Being mother you have care a lot in the following ways:

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