With concerns mounting over a global pandemic of swine flu, the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers recommends that all mothers continue to breastfeed their babies, and urges health workers to continue to support mothers in doing so.

Breastfeeding helps to provide babies with antibodies to any infections that the mother has been exposed to, thus providing a vital first defence against swine flu and other infections. By discontinuing breastfeeding, babies would be put at greater risk as they are likely to have already been exposed to the virus before any symptoms appear in the mother.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinician_pregnant.htm) has issued official guidance which recommends that infants and mothers should be kept in as close contact as possible, and encouraged to have plenty of early and frequent skin to skin contact. They also state that a mother taking antiviral medication is not a contraindication for breastfeeding. Common sense hygiene precautions should be taken including frequent hand washing.

It is also particularly important at this time for mothers who are at the end stages of pregnancy and considering which method to use to feed their babies have accurate information that highlights the important protection that breastmilk provides against diseases including swine flu.

The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) is a voluntary organization founded in 1979 by a group of mothers experienced in breastfeeding counselling. The ABM runs a telephone helpline to provide mothers with support and information from trained breastfeeding counsellors. For further information, please contact

info [at] abm [dot] me [dot] uk