Vaccines and donor milk-risks?

[Mamatoto2]

I'm in the process of sourcing out donor breast milk for my 9 month-old son who I have to wean due my recent cancer diagnosis. He is not vaxed and I'm not sure the extent to which I need to be concerned about him being negatively impacted by vaccines that the donor mom might receive or vaccines that the donor mom's baby might receive during the course of his/her own breastfeeding. Are there vax that pass through milk? Are there vax-specific diseases that can contaminate milk from a breast that is also being nursed by a recently vaxed child?

I'll be x-posting in the vax forum but thought you mamas might know lots about this too.

Thank you!

[averlee]

I'm sorry to hear the bad news, and I wish you wellness.

Everything I've learned about immunity and breastfeeding is about positive impact. Even HIV, which is one of the rare diseases that can pass into breastmilk, seems to give more antibodies than actual viruses- often babies who nurse from their HIV+ mothers never test positive for HIV. Polio, diptheria, measles, etc can not be passed through milk.

In my own personal experience, I've found breastmilk to provide a barrier even between ill children. I was a wet nurse for over a year while also nursing my own daughter, and I sometimes worried that she'd catch the runny nose or pink-eye from my charge, but that never happened, even when they would tandem nurse.

I do realize that pumped milk can become contaminated in different ways than milk from direct feeding, so I'm not totally sure that my personal experience applies. But it still may calm your fears. I think vax milk would still be preferable to formula.

[Asiago]

It may be  win/win , meaning the additional antibodies without the direct injection into the body of antigen, adjuvant and preservatives.

Edited by Asiago - 2/6/11 at 4:00pm