Dear Dr. Rob,
The immunities are numerous in mother's milk. In addition to IgG, IgM, tcells
and IgA, there is also the diathelic immunity. Are you aware of this one?
Mom is in the grocery store. Old lady comes up to coo at baby, sneezes on mom
and baby. Both are upset. Mom nurses baby in the parking lot. Germs from
baby's mouth go into the breast when baby nurses. Breast begins manufacturing
antibodies to those germs. Baby nurses at night, begins getting those
antibodies. 3 days later, mom has the cold, baby doesn't, due to the
diathelic immunity.
This works for germs baby picks up from daycare, from the floor, from teething
on the dog's paws (you get the idea).
As I tell my prenatal breastfeeding class, You can't bottle this!
Margie Forrest, LLLL, RN, BSN, IBCLC in Wellington, FL, midway between the
bottom of Lake Okeechobee and the East coast of Florida.
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