Why don't you hear about this? - Page 2

[honeybunch2k8]

Originally Posted by mama2annabelle

This is interesting to me. In college, I did a research paper on wet-nursing during the early modern period (renaissance). Wet-nurses were commonly employed for sick and elderly people during that time period, not just for babies.

I learn something everyday...

[rmzbm]

Yeah, I didn't know that either. Interesting.

[TxMominCT]

Formula Companies = Power & $$$= lots of lobbying dollars = hush hush breastmilk/breastfeeding.

[jillc512]

I went to a one-day breastfeeding conference at our local hospital. The speaker was in charge of a large NICU in a hospital in Chicago and the topic was breastfeeding and preterm infants. I believe she said that of mothers with preterm babies in their NICU, only 50% planned to BF before the baby came (there was a large population of very young and low-income women). However, their program resulted in 90% of those mothers initiating BF/pumping for their babies. The reasons she gave for this included:
-information about effects of breastfeeding: they stressed that breastfeeding was like medicine for their sick/preterm babies.
-hospital-grade pumps for their use (they could either pump in the hospital or at home)
-LOTS of lactation support, including use of a crematocrit for helping to troubleshoot slow weight gain (I had never heard of a crematocrit before - it's used to measure fat/caloric content of BM)
-weekly support meetings with other mothers

This made it clear to me that if mothers do indeed get both the information AND the support they need, there is a huge increase in breastfeeding rates...

[NYMama27]

Originally Posted by preemiemamarach

because of misinformation in the medical community. my ds has an immune disorder, and his immunologist (who is supposedly one of the best in the country) has told me i am essentially wasting my time eping for him because the only immunological benefit from breast milk is in the first few *weeks*. ds is 10 months. he is on medical formula for ftt right now, but i still ep and give him ebm because i think this doctor is full of it.

This is just so sad. I'm so glad that you are not blindly following this terrible advice but think of all the parents out there who are hearing the same thing and believing it.

I once read a story about a woman whose son was diagnosed with Chron's at 17 -years-old and she re-lactated for him. At first he used to gag whenever he drank it but then he put hershey's syrup in it and he drank 1/2 cup a day and started getting better!

eta: for the person asked about Parkinson's, scientists recently discovered stem cells in breast milk that, if harvested, could potentially be used to combat a bunch of diseases, including Parkinson's.

[honeybunch2k8]

Originally Posted by jillc512

\

-information about effects of breastfeeding: they stressed that breastfeeding was like medicine for their sick/preterm babies.
-hospital-grade pumps for their use (they could either pump in the hospital or at home)
-LOTS of lactation support, including use of a crematocrit for helping to troubleshoot slow weight gain (I had never heard of a crematocrit before - it's used to measure fat/caloric content of BM)
-weekly support meetings with other mothers

This made it clear to me that if mothers do indeed get both the information AND the support they need, there is a huge increase in breastfeeding rates...

That sounds like an excellent program. It's great that they are getting so much help and encouragement. I wonder how that could be implemented on a national level. I think it would also help if our maternity leave was more comparable to those of Sweden, UK, etc. cuz ours is looking kinda shabby.

[St. Margaret]

Originally Posted by Teyu

I read that about 5 times and I don't get it. Why did the article make him mad? Because it wasn't pressuring moms?

B/c it started as an article on the stats of BFing induction rates but then most of it ended up being quotes from people saying, "I don't want to be pressured to BF, don't get on my case." I didn't see the article, it is DH's description of it only I can account for. But he conveyed the sense to me that the author was heavily biased towards FFing and turned the article around that way, choosing to focus on that, like just talking about BFing rates meant that moms were being pressured and shamed. And it sincerely surprised him to start off reading an article about BFing and have that even come up. He's like an innocent little NFL savant... he's totally supportive and totally naive about some of the stuff out there. I agree not pressuring moms is good, but encouraging BFing (through good social programs and education and allllll that) is good.

[Kleine Hexe]

I think it's great that you'll be able to help your son when he arrives.


I don't understand when women *do* know the benefits of breastfeeding (or rather risks of FF) and yet still choose to FF. My college friend made this choice...twice. Her kids have been very sick especially when compared to mine. I'm talking about the things that are pretty well known now for most people. Her kids suffer from chronic ear infections. Both have had tubes inserted and yet they both still get ear infections. Both have asthma and allergies. Both have been in the hospital for pneumonia. Both have taken meds for reflux and other digestive issues.

Yet, when I talk to her she makes negative comments about breastfeeding.
"It's gross"
"I need my space and freedom"
"I can't believe you do that with your breasts. I like mine for sex."
"Don't you think you've done that long enough?"

Yet my kids have never had ear infections or any of the other health issues her kids have. So I just....

[Anglyn]

The wonders of bm never cease! You know you can put it into eyes and ears to cure infections? I have used it succesfully cure my kids of pinkeye. Its good on cuts too.

And I have snuck it to my five year old when she was sick too! Mixed it into her cows milk I did!

[MilkTrance]

Originally Posted by mama2annabelle

This is interesting to me. In college, I did a research paper on wet-nursing during the early modern period (renaissance). Wet-nurses were commonly employed for sick and elderly people during that time period, not just for babies.

WOW, that is very interesting! Do you have any internet links to research?

[amitymama]

Does anyone have any links to studies or articles on the immunilogical and medicinal uses of breastmilk? I've always felt that I don't have solid 'proof' of these things as when I read something in the papers about breastmilk it's usually phrased like "scientists believe" or "some studies show..."

[honeybunch2k8]

I was just watching a Youtube vid where this woman used her breastmilk to cure her husband's conjunctivitis. They painted it as really weird. :

[Da WIC Lady]

Originally Posted by honeybunch2k8

I was just watching a Youtube vid where this woman used her breastmilk to cure her husband's conjunctivitis. They painted it as really weird. :

That's what I used both times I got it this year. DH and my MIL thought it was gross and kept offering me abx for it. It cleared up in three days the second time vs a week when I actually got the eye goop the first time. I started the milk about three days into using the goop and it made a huge difference.

[anyuka]

Originally Posted by mama2annabelle

This is interesting to me. In college, I did a research paper on wet-nursing during the early modern period (renaissance). Wet-nurses were commonly employed for sick and elderly people during that time period, not just for babies.

That's probably where the saying "nursing back to health" came from!!!

[californiajenn]

subbing for links to studies.

[loraxc]

I have always wondered: wouldn't the most amazing thing to do for an AIDS patient be to live with him/her and give him/her some milk? That way you'd presumably get the same illnesses and could pass on the immunities. Is there a flaw in my thinking here or no?

I have a 4-year-old with viral-induced asthma (she was weaned before 18 months-- long story) and if I can get my supply up, I have really considered trying to sneak her some pumped milk. She has brought home two colds to the baby already; baby barely got sick, 4yo got quite sick.

[grantskismom+1]

Lorax, that's exactly my thinking. It makes sense that it would help. The child we're adopting has HIV. My big fear is bringing it up to the pediatric ID specialist. He's going to think I'm nuts.

I've talked to people that have seen the benefits first hand but the doctors won't do case studies because they are fearful of the strain it would put on the milk banks.

[April422]

Originally Posted by honeybunch2k8

ETA: Excuse me if I sound a lil hippie, but I must wonder if people don't realize or are afraid of the power of women's bodies when it comes to childrearing (and childbearing). Just a thought.

Oh you're not hippie, Marsden Wagner makes a very powerful comment about just that in his book "Born in the USA". I don't have my copy handy but if I find it I'll come back and quote it.

[April422]

Originally Posted by Anglyn

The wonders of bm never cease! You know you can put it into eyes and ears to cure infections? I have used it succesfully cure my kids of pinkeye. Its good on cuts too.

And I have snuck it to my five year old when she was sick too! Mixed it into her cows milk I did!

I was just given a back issue of Mothering and it lists medicinal uses for breastmilk.

One of the uses was to cure warts.