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Subject:
From:
Pamela Morrison <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 4 Oct 2014 08:22:45 +0100
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Susan, a great post, thank you, reminding us of some crucially 
important factors.

Pamela

>Date:    Fri, 3 Oct 2014 08:53:56 -0400
>From:    Susan Burger <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Early Solids
>
>Dear all:
>
>There is a wide body of research on how introducing solids too much 
>too early can DECREASE weight gain.  The vast majority of solids 
>that are typically offered to infants as starter foods are simply 
>are not calorically dense enough to compensate for lack of enough 
>human milk.  Some of the strategies to increase caloric content are 
>ultimately not healthy - such as offering lots of sugary or fatty 
>foods which have a different composition of fat than human milk.
>
>There is also the issue of how much solids can a four month old gut 
>tolerate when it was meant to handle a predominately liquid 
>diet?  What happens to a baby whose mother's milk supply is less 
>than 50%?  What happens to the digestive tract of a baby who 
>suddenly has to deal with drinking a lot more water to compensate 
>for the lack of liquid in the diet?
>
>There is also the question of readiness to feed.  An infant who is 
>not ready to consume solid foods who is pushed to eat it may be 
>vulnerable to disregulation of their hunger and satiety cues.
>
>Babies were meant to be on a milk only diet to AROUND six months of 
>age. We are the only mammals whose infants start consuming solids 
>before we have a full set of teeth - but around six months our 
>infants typically start getting some teeth.  Medical anthropologist 
>believe we may have been chewing up bits of meat and putting it into 
>our infants mouths for infants to meet the iron and zinc needs that 
>usually outstrip consumption from human milk around six 
>months.  Typically at that age the caloric needs of an infant are 
>really still met by human milk, not solids.
>
>Those of us in the generation whose parents were told to give us 
>solids at ridiculously early ages do not seem to be fairing well in 
>terms of inflammatory disease at older ages.  I think the jury is 
>clear cut on use of solids before "around" six months in areas with 
>poor sanitation, clear cut on use of solids before four months in 
>areas of good sanitation.  I haven't read anything peer reviewed 
>article yet that has convinced me of a compelling reason that 
>introduction of solids before "around" six months in areas of good 
>sanitation is beneficial.  Furthermore, I think there is an 
>increasingly plausible amount of emerging research on gut flora that 
>we do not yet understand fully how solids before six months will 
>affect future health.
>
>I think the debate over "solids versus formula" before six months is 
>sheer speculation regardless of which side you "believe" in.
>
>While I really appreciate Jack Newman's advocacy for breastfeeding 
>and his generally good advice, he and I have agreed to disagree on 
>test weighing.  I think on the topic of pushing solids before four 
>months with no good evidence one way or another is another one where 
>I will respectfully disagree with him as well because he is 
>providing a "blanket" recommendation.  My discussions with mothers 
>in such situations are entirely on a case by case basis where a lot 
>more than the infant's age is taken into consideration.


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