Minimising the risk of Influenza A (H1N1) Infection from mother to baby

• The spectrum of disease of pandemic influenza A H1N1 09 in newborns is unclear
• Breast feeding should be strongly encouraged

Sensible efforts should be made to reduce the likelihood the baby will be infected, while minimising the effect on the mother-baby relationship. These include:

• treating the mother to reduce the risk of transmission (the mother is considered non-infectious after 72 hours of treatment with antiviral medicine)
• the mother and baby should sleep in separate beds
• when breast feeding, bathing, caring for, cuddling, or otherwise being within 1 metre of the baby, the mother should:
• wash her hands thoroughly with soap and water before interacting with the baby
• always use cough etiquette near the baby.

Although these measures can be ceased when the mother is no longer infectious, continued good hygiene should be encouraged at all times. These measures should apply to any carer or family member with influenza.

• Mothers requiring hospital care should not be prematurely discharged because they have influenza
• If discharged while still infectious, mothers should be provided with a sufficient supply of surgical masks to take home
• Prophylaxis is not recommended for the baby. Should the baby develop symptoms, the baby should be isolated from other babies, assessed urgently by a paediatrician, and if influenza is diagnosed, considered for treatment with antiviral medicine.

Source: The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists