At least it's better than formula...

[mytwogirls]

I read in my hubby's Popular Science magazine about how scientists at the Russian Academy of Sciences have genetically engineered goats that carry the human gene for the protein lactoferrin, normally found only in high quantities in human breastmilk. It says,"The protein which is absent in baby formula, is critical because it protects infants from bacteria and viruses while their immune systems are still maturing." They want to stock a farm with these goats who would make this fortified milk for rural villages to help lower infection and death rates in formula-fed babies. I found this to be quite interesting!

[pantufla]

Interesting yes. But seriously? Shouldn't they encourage breastfeeding instead? Or provide clean water? :

[mytwogirls]

The article was focused on mothers who had HIV AIDS or other health issues and could not breast feed. Guess I should have pointed that out.

[ErinsJuneBug]

wasnt there a recent study that showed that HIV positive moms that breastfed were LESS likley to have babies that were HIV +?

[robinCBN]

re the HIV thing, I was reading a WHO (I think) publication that said that the babies of HIV infected mothers were least likely to die if exclusively breastfed or exclusively formula fed, not a mixture.

[mytwogirls]

I have NO IDEA about the HIV aspect of it...just saw an interesting article and thought I would pass it along...

[Ruthla]

I'm not so sure this is "better than" formula- it just sounds like a different formula- one based on local goat milk rather than powdered cow's milk.

It's a shame they can't arrange enough donor milk for the babies of HIV+ moms.

[Momily]

Originally Posted by robinCBN

re the HIV thing, I was reading a WHO (I think) publication that said that the babies of HIV infected mothers were least likely to die if exclusively breastfed or exclusively formula fed, not a mixture.

That is correct, when there is no access to prophylactic medication, which if administered correctly essentially eliminates the risk of maternal-child transmission, ebfing is the least risky path. However, the benefits of ebf disappear as soon as the baby loses its virgin gut -- one taste of solids, for example, and bfing is no longer safe. The WHO advocates sudden weaning in this situation.

The other issue that I've heard about is that the strains on a woman's body from breastfeeding often cause a quicker progression of the disease, and speed up her own death. In many areas of the world where the death rate and quality of life for orphans is abysmal.

I believe in breastfeeding, but were it not an option I think I'd prefer to feed my child formula, something that has a long history of being used and has been proved to be safe and adequate for the majority of infants who use it than a recently developed genetically engineered goats milk, produced in a manner that may or may not be sanitary or safe. If they were figuring out a way to add this lactoferrin to exisiting formula I'd be much more comfortable with that.

[nataliebassoon]

If I had had to supplement (which thankfully I did not), goat's milk would have been my first choice before formula. But not a genetically engineered kind!

[Mbella]

Dh gets Popular Science too and read it to me. I thought it was pretty interesting as well.