According to the established international definitions for exclusive
breastfeeding, an exclusively breastfed infant is receiving only
breastmilk, either direct from the mother or in some other way.
However, if medicinal drops, vitamins or minerals are given, the
infant is still considered exclusively breastfed. This presumes that
the vitamin/mineral solution or medicines are not diluted with extra
water.
If an infant is given breastmilk but also water, ritual fluids such as
teas and oils, or a watery drink such as the glucose solution given
before a heel stick, that means the infant is predominantly breastfed,
not exclusively. (One can breastfeed the infant before, during and
after a heel stick and have virtually no crying, just a little
surprise on the part of the baby. This would allow exclusive
breastfeeding to be maintained, and prevent the baby from experiencing
separation from the mother as well as pain. Something to consider,
perhaps, as an alternative to glucose.)
The question of the wine traditionally given at a bris (circumcision)
ceremony would revolve around whether it is an anesthetic medicine, in
which case the infant is exclusively breastfed still, or a ritual
fluid given primarily because it is customary. I think that probably
determining this would require the sophisticated skills of analysis
and exegesis that are part of rabbinical studies, so if we are lucky
enough to have a member of LactNet with that training, perhaps she (or
her scholarly male relatives?) can sort this one out and let us know
their views.
By the way, if the wine is given by feeding bottle, the infant is
bottle fed. There is a clear distinction made in the definitions
between how an infant is fed, and what it is fed; bottle fed does not
mean formula fed by international definition, as medicines, formula
and other breastmilk substitutes can be and often are given by other
techniques.
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