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Lactation Information and Discussion

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Subject:
From:
Patricia Young <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 15 Nov 1997 13:15:32 -0500
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Dear Chanita, my understanding is that baby drinks amniotic fluid and
digests it, solids go into bowel and build up into what we call meconium.
The meconium is loaded with bilirubin.  After birth the "normal" mechanism
is for baby to drink colostrum and poop out bili laden meconium.  Colostrum
has laxative effect for just this purpose.  "Commonly" access to breast is
limited, colostrum is limited, less laxative, less pooping.  Then baby
begins to reabsorb bilirubin through the gut wall.  Bilirubin gets to
immature liver, which dumps it back into the blood stream, baby's bili
begins to go up, baby nurses less, and the whole thing spirals downward.
All because baby did not get liberal doses of colostrum, early and often!
This is an oversimplification of physiology, but basically what happens.
Can you tell I loved KA's explanation of normal vs common? Sincerely, Pat
in SNJ

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