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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 24 Jan 2000 14:41:07 +0000
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>Hi everyone,
>        I am trying to find a diagram and an explanation for something that I
>know I heard but don't know where or when.
>        How does the breast itself manufacture antibodies to bacteria
>(and viruses?) that the baby has.  The loop is supposed to be -
>a-exposure of mother's to the baby's germs
>b-breast manufactures antibodies more quickly than if the entire immune
>system was involved
>c-baby receives these specific antibodies in the milk within a very short
>time (about 24-72 hours BEFORE they would be available under more
>common methods of maternal antibody production)

I have heard Peter Howie and Stuart Forsyth from Scotland speak about this,
but can't give you a text book ref.

The mother breathes in or otherwise ingests bugs, and they reach her lungs
and/or her stomach.  Her own immune system kicks in immediately, and makes
specific antibodies to the bug. Through the lymptahic system, these same
antibodies travel to the breasts whereupon the breasts make 'twins' of
these antibodies and secrete them in the breast milk. This process does not
take a long time, as you say - it's more or less instant, and the
antibodies are available to the baby  as soon as he needs them.

Now, I accept that is a very simplistic explanation of what happens, but it
does show that separating mother and babyis pointless, and could be
harmful, and delaying feeds ditto. It also shows that giving a baby EBM
cannot be as effective as a health protector as 'direct' breastfeeding.

It is a wonderfully elegant example of the way mother and baby work together.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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