Dear Friends:

In the US, one-third of babies enter this world in the "sterile"  environment
of the operating theater. Instead of being colonized with their  mother's
flora (which happens naturally in vaginal birth), they are colonized  with
whatever germs are in the OR. This includes the flora of the staff.

I would venture a guess that 40% of babies in the US are given antibiotics
(either in labor) or afterwards for positive group B-strep or for rupture of
membranes greater than 18 hours. Antibiotics disrupt the colonization of the
gut.

In my city, only 45% of mothers leave the hospital having done any
breastfeeding;  formula milk changes the gut pH, with resultant changes in  gut flora.

All these 3 factors play a role in the development of allergies.

The role of the gut as an immune system organ is not valued or completely
understood. The role of the gut as a nervous system organ is less valued or
understood. (There are more synapses in the gut than there are in the brain!)
Popular view of the gut is as a digestive organ, which is true and only part of
the picture.

I will always remember Professor Peter Hartmann talking about "mucky  babies"
not getting allergies...............

Anti-bacterial products abound in the US, even dental floss. The popular
view is that germs are "bad" and must be destroyed. The notion that we need the
right combination of certain kinds of germs for our health is considered "far
out".

The germ theory has 2 parts; one the presence of germs, and two, the
susceptibility of the host. We all have enough germs living on our skin to kill  us;
however, our natural resistance (from good gut function and strong immune
systems) keeps us alive and happy.

(From Wikipedia)"The hygiene hypothesis states that a lack of early
childhood exposure to infectious agents, symbiotic microorganisms (e.g. gut  flora),
and parasites increases susceptibility to allergic diseases by  modulating
immune system development."
Breastfeeding is only a part of the foundation of health.

warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI
craniosacral  therapy practitioner, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania USA
_www.myspace.com/adonicalee


_ (http://www.myspace/adonicalee)



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