Betsy:  The stomach acid of a 6 month old is no where near the same pH as an
adult.  It is a progressive increase over the first three to five years of
life (another indicator of how long babies "should" be bf according to
biology).  Now, this pedi was showing his ignorance about nutrition as well
because one of the jobs of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) in ADULTS and
everyone. for that matter, IS to uncoil the polypeptide chains we call
proteins into smaller units of amino acids so that they may be acted upon by
specific enzymes in the intestines (and then can cross the intestinal
microvilli).  It most definitely does not destroy these amino acids.  ( I'd
really have to hold myself  back from someone like this.)

As for destroying all the immunologic components, the pH at 6 months is
certainly not low enough (low pH means more acidic), but even later when it
is, mothers' milk immunologic components become more concentrated and some
would survive.  I would have to ask this doctor if he had ever had food
poisoning himself or knew any "healthy" non-immunocompromised adults who
had.  If he said "yes", then I'd like him to explain how this happened if
the stomach acid "kills off any living microbe"?  Sheesh!
Bless you for maintaining your cool!
--
--Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC    [log in to unmask]
INFANT CUISINE AND MOTHER CARE: Lactation Consulting, Perinatal Health
Education and Attachment Parenting Classes for parents and practitioners

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