>I am wondering why it is that babies don't supposedly
>get "colds" for 3 months.  I know that babies are
>supposed to get antibodies from Mom before
>delivery...but what if Mom hasn't had that particular
>cold?  She wouldn't be immune to that virus, then.

When a breastfeeding baby (or child) is exposed to a cold she comes to the
breast and her saliva sends a message through the nipple Mother makes
antibodies even if she wasn't exposed herself. So Mother wouldn't have had
to have that particular "bug."

Also an exclusively breastfed baby has gut protection from a virus' or
bacteria's penetrating the mucous membrane. This is a major reason to not
supplement or give foods other than breastmilk for the first 6 months. Dr.
Gartner wrote that even a teaspoon of other foods changes the GI tract
lessening the protection from infection.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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