In reference to the discussion about gut integrity:

Valerie and katherine are both correct, IMO. Valreie says:
"I have a different perspective.  I think this case or other cases show that
 infants fed other substances before they ever get the chance to breastfed,
 suffer permanent gut damage.  And this gut damage is not alleviated by
 breastfeeding.  This reminds me of the patent I described to Lactnet a week ago where the
 patent seemed to imply that infant formula specifically caused problems in
 the breastfed infant."

This is so important. I do think there is irreparable damage from any AIM. But, we cannot state that this is the cause of all gut damage across the board.

katherine in atl says:
 "I have also seen situations in which mom can only
 eat a couple 'rare' foods - like tapioca and ostrich.  and really nothing else.  these  extreme situations really do say  volumes about the gut health/gut  integrity of the mother."

Also true. The damage to an infant from AIM does not preclude damge from a mother's gut permeability.

Valerie, you say that you do not see why we assume the mother's gut is damaged, yet if you beleive that mixed feeds (or exclusive AF) damage the gut permanently, then wouldn't most of us (mothers included) have gut damage?

My Leo is a perfect example, I had undiagnosed celiac disease while pregnant with him. He was born at home--never had a drop of anything other than my milk. Within 2 weeks of birth, he was only stooling once every few days (happy, growing like crazy, though). He was severely allergic to soy and removing it from my diet changed everything for him. It also made me realize that soy was a problem for me. My gut was and is definately the problem. IMO, this is an underlying cause in allergy in most babies.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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