WHERE is this info? Trying to help a mom decide

[Latte Mama]

I'm giving a soon to be mom lots of information on BF and for most of it I can find stuff on the internet to back up what I'm telling her. She's intrigued by a lot of the components of breastmilk, antibodies, how it changes, etc.

I know that I've heard that when babe is ill and nurses, the breast then signals for mom's body to immediately start making antibodies specific to babe's illness. But I cannot find one stinkin' thing saying this ! Ok, I did find one small article but it wasn't very convincing. I've used every keyword search I could think of and all the usual sites.

Where is this info authenticated? Is this really true? Funny thing, I EP'd for the first 3 months, it was this very piece of information that pushed me to get DS back to breast and we did it! At 3 months old . But now I want to know if I can use it to help another mama.

[LemonPie]

I've heard similar things and I think it's the stuff of urban legends.

Mom makes antibodies to the illness because she is in very close proximity all the time with baby and is exposed to baby's germs (and vice versa). Mom makes antibodies to the foreign bugs that baby gives her, antibodies are in the bloodstream, hence antibodies find their way into the milkspace.

[Sk8ermaiden]

Yes, I have heard that one of the reasons we kiss our babies' heads so much (aside from them being so stinkin' cute) is to pick up their germs and make antibodies for them.

I am pretty sure our boobs do not have germ receptors, and have not seen any concrete evidence to suggest they do, although I am always happy to be proven wrong.

[eclipse]

#26 on this list
http://www.caroldenny.com/index2.php...do_pdf=1&id=12
says that the baby's saliva stimulate's the breast to produce milk with the specific antibodies that a baby needs, but it doesn't cite a source.

I know I read it somewhere else, though it was many years ago.

[proudmomof4]

The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding, p. 358:

"The sIgA found in a mother's milk is produced locally in her breasts, but what kind of antibodies are produced in the breast is determined by immune responses in the mother's gut and respiratory tract. When germs enter mother's body, her immune system responds by producing antibodies. Information about this response travels to the mucosal surfaces in the mammary gland, and the breast then makes IgA antibodies that will fight the germs to which mother has been exposed. These antibodies end up in her baby and help him fight the bacteria and viruses in their shared environment. In other words, when baby comes into contact with a new germ, all he has to do is pass it on to his mother, perhaps by nursing at her breast, and her body will manufacture antibodies to that germ and give them back to baby in her milk. The antibodies in mother's milk will also reflect the germs with which she has come in contact in the past. These antibodies will protect her baby especially during the early monts of life, until the time that he is better able to fight disease and infection on his own."

Would that help you?

[Latte Mama]

Originally Posted by proudmomof4

The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding, p. 358:

"The sIgA found in a mother's milk is produced locally in her breasts, but what kind of antibodies are produced in the breast is determined by immune responses in the mother's gut and respiratory tract. When germs enter mother's body, her immune system responds by producing antibodies. Information about this response travels to the mucosal surfaces in the mammary gland, and the breast then makes IgA antibodies that will fight the germs to which mother has been exposed. These antibodies end up in her baby and help him fight the bacteria and viruses in their shared environment. In other words, when baby comes into contact with a new germ, all he has to do is pass it on to his mother, perhaps by nursing at her breast, and her body will manufacture antibodies to that germ and give them back to baby in her milk. The antibodies in mother's milk will also reflect the germs with which she has come in contact in the past. These antibodies will protect her baby especially during the early monts of life, until the time that he is better able to fight disease and infection on his own."

Would that help you?

Yes, thank you . I think I'll get her a copy as well.

[HappyFox05]

http://www.asklenore.com/breastfeedi..._newborns.html