Random thought..Breast Milk vrs Breast Milk?

mumps

poet123 wrote: »

I don't know the stats on how long most women breastfeed for. Most of my friends who did it did it until their baby was weaned.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206553/Breastfeeding_Statistics_2012-13.pdf

According to this government report it has fallen below 50% by six to eight weeks. I think for vaccinations they look at herd immunity as being above 80% so I would think below 50% wouldn't be great.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20406743

This BBC one indicates that only one percent of mums are breastfeeding at six months, I was still breastfeeding at 3 years so I think I was in a very small minority. I have to confess I was also giving him solids, had to do something as I was working.

mumps

Xaniwoop wrote: »

I've got to hit the school run but until I get back take a look at this:

http://kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/immunefactors/

You are both right in different ways. I would expect though that the vaccination schedule is based on expecting most people to have given up or not initiated breastfeeding.

I'll be back with some stuff for your DIL to think about later Mumps.

That is really interesting, it is truly amazing and nature is a wonderful thing.

flitter

I breastfed both of my children until their teeth came through and they started biting. Because my niece was born on the same day as my youngest, and her mother couldn't breastfeed due to complications, I expressed breast-milk for her as well. Our doctor thought it was a wonderful idea, and since we'd already agreed to them living with us for a little while after the baby was born it wasn't an inconvenience. I'm a firm believer in breastfeeding when you can, although I realize that not everyone can or even wants to. I personally think it's cheaper, better for bonding with baby and the immunization benefits are a great bonus.

Kayalana99

flitter wrote: »

I breastfed both of my children until their teeth came through and they started biting. Because my niece was born on the same day as my youngest, and her mother couldn't breastfeed due to complications, I expressed breast-milk for her as well. Our doctor thought it was a wonderful idea, and since we'd already agreed to them living with us for a little while after the baby was born it wasn't an inconvenience. I'm a firm believer in breastfeeding when you can, although I realize that not everyone can or even wants to. I personally think it's cheaper, better for bonding with baby and the immunization benefits are a great bonus.

That was very kind. I hate expressing milk ...its just that pump. :eek:

Mankysteve

barbiedoll wrote: »

I had asthma, eczema, constant chest and ear infections and numerous allergies as a child and the only reason that I wanted to breastfeed was to spare my son from the same.

Of course, it's impossible to quantify how much breastfeeding has benefited him (and me!) but I can say that my son has mild asthma (he rarely needs medication), he has never had eczema and the only allergy he has is to nuts. He can stroke any animal, something which was denied to me as a child as it made me so ill. He has never had an ear infection, he has had a chest infection twice in 15 years. Even when he caught chicken pox at 10 months old, he was not really poorly at the time.

As an added bonus, I was back in my jeans within a couple of weeks!

Me and all my siblings were breast fed but we've all got mild asthma , ezema and a allergy or two each. Nothing serve mind you.

flitter

Kayalana99 wrote: »

That was very kind. I hate expressing milk ...its just that pump. :eek:

Fortunately I had so much milk it made feeding 2 easy, and yeah the pump was pretty horrid.

gayleygoo

Flitter how lovely that you expressed milk for your niece!

I was told by a lactation consultant that antibodies in breastmilk start reducing after 6-9 months, since by then baby will probably be picking stuff up off the floor and sucking on it and they are expected to be making their own antibodies against those germs! She also said that breastfeeding didn't prevent childhood diseases or conditions (asthma, ear infections etc), although it could reduce the seriousness of it, but it's when that baby has grown up and the body starts slowing down that the problems of not being breastfed start to show. She gave us some stats on how much more likely formula-fed (and also early weaned) babies were to suffer digestive problems and allergies as older adults, despite them having healthy childhoods, and how much money this costs the NHS each year! I wish I still had them

Scotsbride

Raksha wrote: »

I donated milk to the SCBU for the prem babies as it was easier to digest, but not sure breast milk itself contains the antibidies, I thought it was the colostrum. ?

That fantastic if I have any left over milk I might find out about that as I won't be able to give blood until after the baby born in answer to your question. It's both although antibodies tale off after a while as the baby immune system develops hence why they recommend vaccination. Colostrum also contains things to kick start the varies organ systems of your baby.